Lakers Rumors: Buzz on Goran Dragic, Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo Trade Aftermath

The Los Angeles Lakers are nowhere close to being members of the NBA elite, but the team continues to generate compelling storylines.

Some narratives appeal to the morbidly curious or the fans basking in schadenfreude as this once-proud franchise struggles, while others are simply the latest discussion fodder for supporters who follow the team day in and day out.

The latest intrigue from Lakerland stems from the recent postgame comments of one Kobe Bryant. The Lakers lost Sunday to the Sacramento Kings 108-101, which ended a five-game skid for DeMarcus Cousins and company.

The Lakers were right there in it until they faded down the stretch. Bryant somehow scored 25 points despite 8-of-30 shooting from the field. According to Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears, coach Byron Scott might have to rest Bryant for fatigue at some point:

Bryant acknowledged the possibility but refrained from giving a definitive answer on the matter, saying that it would take some time and self-assessment to come to a decision.

"It's probably not that much of an option, really," he said, via Antonio Gonzalez of The Associated Press (via NBA.com). "I just have to look at the body, the amount of the workload, and see how it responds."

Bryant does seem to be wearing down. He's shooting just 33.5 percent from the field in December, down from 39 percent in November, per ESPN.com. He's also fouling and turning the ball over at a slightly higher rate this month, which could suggest an inability to keep up with the speed of play around him. On the other hand, when the Lakers play on back-to-back nights, Bryant is averaging a robust 28.5 points per game.

Scott would be wise to rest Bryant. At 8-19, the Lakers aren't even close to contending for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference at this point, and it could be an opportunity for players to spread their wings and prepare for life after Bryant. It would also save Bryant's legs for point guard duties, which he has handled in close games at various times this season.

It's tough to imagine the hypercompetitive Bryant being completely comfortable with sitting out a game while healthy, but one would hope he understands the toll being put on his body is rather remarkable. He's averaging 35.4 minutes per game, tied for 15th in the NBA with Kemba Walker, who is 12 years Bryant's junior.

Bryant isn't just playing for this season; he's also playing for 2015-16, when the Lakers have a half-decent chance of surrounding him with some talent.

The Lakers are practically devoid of notable trade assets as of now, making free agency and the draft their best routes to success. The franchise was unable to lure any big-name free agents to Tinseltown in the summer of 2014, but there is at least one player who wouldn't mind taking his talents to Southern California.

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic, whose contract does indeed expire at the end of this season, countered the narrative that free agents aren't interested in joining forces with Bryant, via Newsday's Mike Gavin:

CBS Sports' Matt Moore noted in November why Dragic might consider leaving the Suns for the Lakers:

"

But the Lakers will have the money this summer to offer multiple top free agents max contracts, which would then in turn still give them cap room after the cap increase in 2016. So the Lakers could rebuild a championship core around Kobe Bryant if they can get two to buy into the promise of one another.

Still, Dragic is unlikely to be interested in that situation. Byron Scott had great years with Chris Paul in New Orleans, but overall isn't known for a wide-open offensive style which benefits Dragic, like the one he has with Jeff Hornacek in Phoenix.

"

Dragic is averaging 16.0 points and 4.1 assists per game this season, and his high-energy, competitive playing style would seemingly mesh well with Bryant. Point guard Jeremy Lin hasn't fared well since joining the Lakers and has come off the bench lately for Ronnie Price, a development that even the most pessimistic Lakers fans (or optimistic Price supporter) probably wouldn't have bet on prior to this season.

It's quite possible the Suns could also trade Dragic this season if they fear he won't re-sign with a team that also features the likes of Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas at the point guard/combo guard spot.

Of course, Dragic might not be the only point guard the Lakers try to snatch up in 2015. According to USA Today's Sam Amick, the Lakers attempted to land Rajon Rondo in a deal with the Boston Celtics.

"The Lakers inquired about a deal Thursday that would send forward Jordan Hill and a first-round pick to the Celtics for Rondo and forward Jeff Green," Amick writes, "but the Celtics declined that offer, a person familiar with the details told USA Today Sports."

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reported which aspect of a certain trade offer the two teams were unable to agree upon:

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski also noted the Lakers and New York Knicks turned down three-way deals:

The Dallas Mavericks ended up making a better offer and landed Rondo, but as Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix pointed out, the Lakers could still go after him at the end of this season:

That being said, Wojnarowski also suggested Rondo could be looking to sign an extension with the Mavericks, who as it stands offer a much more appealing long-term situation than the Lakers:

The Lakers inability to land Rondo speaks to the futility of their current situation. The paucity of tradable players makes it tough for them to complete deals and at the same time makes them an undesirable destination for free agents looking to contend. As Moore suggested, the Lakers would likely have to convince two star players to join Bryant and company at the same time. That's going to be difficult in a thin 2015 free-agent class.

It's quite possible the Lakers best chances to rebuild are when Bryant comes off the books. And if that's the case, don't expect him to sit around waiting for that day to come. He'll be suiting up.