Several teams are holding on to a small ounce of hope that Rajon Rondo will be available come the 2015 offseason. Prior to getting traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Rondo was considered to be one of the two best free agents set to hit the market in the upcoming offseason. However, the Boston Celtics sent him on his way while the Mavericks are hoping to have an answer to their long-term point guard problem. The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping Rondo has different plans as Kobe Bryant continues to recruit the point guard to the West Coast.
After suffering another season-ending injury, Bryant made it clear that he would be doing some recruiting in free agency in order to get the Lakers the best team for his final season in the league. He wants that team to include Rondo. The point guard told the media that he is very aware Bryant wants him to come to Los Angeles and he is certainly flattered, but is merely focused on the season at hand right now.
"When he speaks, it speaks volumes," Rondo said, via ESPNDallas.com. "It's an honor and a compliment that he'd want to play with a guy like me, but right now, I'm focused on winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks. I'm focused on what I have to do right now. It's impossible to play with Kobe right now."
Rondo made it clear that he and Bryant are very good friends and have a similar mindset when it comes to basketball, but did not go any further about whether or not they would play together. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, there is little to no chance Rondo re-signs with the Dallas Mavericks. The point guard is not getting along well with head coach Rick Carlisle and could be aiming to jump ship.
There is no question the Lakers need Rondo. The team is dealing with the season-ending injury to Steve Nash, inconsistencies to Jeremy Lin and the unknown potential of Jordan Clarkson. Los Angeles did not get to sign Goran Dragic or Reggie Jackson who were both traded at the deadline, so they must make a move in the offseason in order to fix the issue.
The Lakers are not the only one pushing for Rondo. The New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and the Mavericks want the point guard. Dallas owner Mark Cuban made it clear that Rondo was not a one-season rental. They want the point guard for the long-term as well, but might have spoiled the chance to do so.
