Lakers Rumors: LA Must Pursue Rajon Rondo to Help Kobe Bryant Capture NBA Title

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers and Celtics have not had any discussions about trading Rajon Rondo for Pau Gasol. 

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 "I think that LA certainly wants a point guard, there's no question. I know Kobe [Bryant] loves Rondo, and he'd love to play with him. I've also been told, for all the talk about that Gasol [rumor]…I've been told the two teams never ever discussed -- LA had never called Boston and they've never discussed it. I don't think it's anything that's really based in any reality."

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The question I have is why not? Part of the answer might be found in the same interview. 

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"He's got a very good contract," Wojnarowski said. "The Celtics re-signed him on a favorable contract that they're going to use at some point -- you're hoping if you're Boston that you're going to use him at some point as part of a package to bring in a big star player.

"Whether that's somebody that's trying to force his way out of another market, whether it's a Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. That's the kind of player Boston has pursued in trades and has used Rondo for. That's what makes sense with him.

"He's there to be part of a bigger package for a superstar, for a franchise player. They're not going to trade Rajon Rondo for spare parts or just to get rid of him. That's not going to happen."

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So apparently, the Celtics are hoping to parlay Rondo into a max contract value player, which Gasol is that. Whether he's the kind of franchise player at this point in his career that he once was is a bit of a question mark. 

Having said, that, it's also a question about whether Rondo could acquire a franchise player in return. Gasol is 31 but he's not 35. He still has the ability to finish out his contract at a high level. 

The Lakers should at least be exploring the option. Rondo is the best point guard they have any chance of getting and they aren't going anywhere without a serious upgrade at point guard.

At the very least, just for the sake of getting Kobe Bryant a realistic chance at a sixth ring, they need to pick up the phone.