The Boston Celtics have assigned All-Star guard Rajon Rondo to the Maine Red Claws of the Development League as he continues his rehab from ACL surgery, according to ESPN reporter Chris Forsberg.

In a team press release, GM Danny Ainge announced Rondo "has been assigned for an afternoon workout and that he'll be called back up shortly."

Earlier in the week, Rondo tweeted about perhaps returning to the NBA arena as early as Friday, when the Celtics visit the Lakers.

"We've got a day planned," rookie coach Brad Stevens told ESPN of the activities planned for Rondo. "Some strenuous activity planned for him. And then kinda go from there. But I don't think it's fair to put a day on it until he goes through everything he needs to go through. But, obviously, hey, we're nearing that time. No question."

Rondo underwent surgery last February, meaning his much anticipated return has now been almost a year in the making.

"We haven't talked about specifics," Stevens says of conversations he had with the star guard he's yet to officially coach. "I've kinda gathered that he was coming back fairly shortly, so I'm guessing based on everything I can tell. Obviously, we're planning for the very short term without him, but hopefully we have him back very soon."

As for the impact he expects Rondo might have, Stevens later told ESPN "again, the most I've talked about this whole situation is with the media. We've briefly talked about when [Rondo] could possibly be back, but that's as far as it's gotten."