You couldn't get a top 5 pick for rondo at this point
The three other top 5 Bobcats draft picks that LarBrd33 wouldn't trade straight up for Rondo? Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton and Adam Morrison.
There's been a lot of busts picked in the top 5. There's also been a lot of superstars.
No, I don't think Rondo would net you a top 5 pick at this point. He's 28 years old, flawed, probably not an all-star anymore... and although 12 mil a year is a reasonable contract for a fringe allstar who can't shoot... most rebuilding teams would opt to take the top 5 pick. It's a potential superstar and he'll be locked into a rookie deal.
Now, I think most contenders would prefer to go with an established 28 year old (presuming Rondo ever comes back from his injury)... but most teams picking in the top 5 aren't contenders... they are teams looking to rebuild.
Again, though, you spent months telling everyone that the Celts wouldn't miss Rondo at all in the playoffs this year, and last year you were telling everyone that his assist totals would take a big hit if he didn't have Ray to pass the ball to. You might not have the slightest idea of what a player like Rondo adds to a team but that doesn't somehow mean he's not one of the best playoff performers in the league whenever he's healthy. He's led a team to the ecf and another team to the finals before he turned 27. The odds on more than a quarter of the players you tout over Rondo having that much postseason success in their entire careers is fairly low.
I'll try to mediate here and say it probably depends.
My theory: a team with a top 5 pick would only find Rondo very attractive if they already have a franchise-type talent and are starting to assemble pieces around him. Rondo is a perfect #2 guy, but I can't see acquiring him before you have a #1.
The only teams who fill the bill are NOP and CLE, and CLE is out because they have Irving. (This makes my point, I think - if Cleveland had traded for Rondo earlier, then when they had the #1 they would have been forced to trade Rondo or draft someone else).
Rondo is a perfect fit with Davis IMO. He would bring his championship experience and culture, and be a nice fit playing style-wise. I can easily see NOP surrendering a pick in the 3-5 range of a mediocre draft to get Rondo. They could move Vasquez - he's on an attractive deal and might fetch them back a quality first round pick himself.
Another possibility would be DET. They also have some very good pieces (Monroe and Drummond) who would really benefit from Rondo's presence. Those big guys would develop much better mentally and in their games with Rondo as opposed to many of the names being thrown around in the top 5 this year.
That's about it, though. I think most other lottery teams are still interested less in a sure thing and more in...playing the lottery.