Rajon Rondo: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Star PG
Point guard Rajon Rondo's tenure with the Dallas Mavericks has not gone smoothly, making his impending free agency this summer more delicate than it seemed when the 2014-15 season started. He seems to have a plan for himself next year, though his lackadaisical play may not bring it to fruition.
Continue for updates.
Ding: Can Rondo Still Help Lakers?
Friday, April 24
Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding discussed whether Rondo could still help the Lakers:
Rondo Reportedly Preferred Lakers, Carlisle Doesn't Foresee PG's Return
Wednesday, April 22
Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com provided comments from Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle, who addressed a question about whether or not he believes Rondo will play for the team again:
According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo Sports, Rondo's long-term plan coming into this season was to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after his contract with Boston expired:
"When Rondo realized his run with the Celtics was over this year, he planned to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. He expected a maximum contract. Once Dallas made the trade, he was open to re-signing with the Mavericks – only there are no max contract offers for Rondo on the market.
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Rondo is just 29 years old and made four consecutive All-Star appearances from 2010-13. He used to be regarded as one of the best defensive players in the league, leading the NBA in steals during the 2009-10 season, but that was before he blew out his ACL in January 2013.
Rondo admits his defense has suffered because of the injury. "I haven't played defense in a couple of years," he told MassLive.com's Jay King after he was traded to Dallas.
The lack of defensive aptitude and lethargic play, highlighted by a pitiful effort with four points and one assist in 10 minutes during Game 2 of the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against Houston, gives him as little leverage as he could possibly have heading into an offseason that he expected to be very lucrative.
That may work out well for the Lakers.
Depending on how the front office views Jordan Clarkson after his solid rookie season, the Lakers may be looking to upgrade at point guard.
They can use Rondo's poor play as justification to make a low-money, short-term offer, hoping to get him to take it as a way to rebuild his value and hit free agency again with more leverage in one or two years.
