Despite his issues with the coaching staff, several will be planning to offer Rajon Rondo a big contract in free agency. The point guard is still considered one of the best available at the position and his roller coaster season with the Dallas Mavericks will likely do very little to hurt his stock. With Rondo expected to leave Dallas in free agency, will Kobe Bryant begin putting on the hard sale for the point guard to sign with the Lakers?
Rondo did not give off too many hints regarding his free agency plans before the Boston Celtics opted to trade him to the Dallas Mavericks. However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Rondo was planning on signing with the Lakers in free agency before the trade happened. Wojnarowski believes that after the fall out with head coach Rick Carlisle, that is still very much the plan for Rondo.
According to multiple sources, the Lakers will chase Rondo heavily with the $30 million in cap space the team is likely to have. The Sporting News is reporting the Lakers want a star in free agency and they believe Rondo is that player. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN confirmed the Lakers are planning on swarming the point guard in free agency and have been interested in him for several years now. Rondo admitted he was flatted by the interest from players like Bryant.
"He's one of the best that's ever played our game," Rondo said, via ESPN.com. "When he speaks, it speaks volumes. 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."
The Lakers have a big need to fill at the point guard position. Steve Nash has retired and the Los Angeles Times is reporting Jeremy Lin is not expected to return despite the point guard expressing interest in a new deal. That leaves the Lakers with Jordan Clarkson, a player favored for the future, but certainly not someone who can do the job alone. The Lakers benefitted from the rise of Clarkson and despite the trade rumors surrounding his name, the team looks poised to retain him. Rondo would be a nice pairing.
If the Lakers miss out on Rondo, they certainly have options. Having a player like Clarkson affords the team flexibility. They could chase solid names like Goran Dragic or Reggie Jackson while also looking at Brandon Knight or Norris Cole.
