Several reports claim the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to make a Rajon Rondo trade happen, with one report saying Los Angeles is offering the expiring contract of Steve Nash and multiple draft picks for the Boston Celtics star.
Los Angeles was thought as a team likely to pursue Rondo in the offseason as a free agent, but that apparently is no longer the case. Reports from ESPN indicated the Lakers have tossed their name into the Rondo sweepstakes and seriously intend to pick him up before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
"Sources tell ESPN the Lakers also offered Boston multiple picks (and) Nash for Rondo," ESPN's Ramona Shelburne tweeted Thursday.
If the Lakers do acquire Rondo, they'd have enough cap room in the summer to re-sign the soon-to-be free agent to a lucrative deal. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and Rondo also are friends off the court, which could help convince Rondo to stay in Los Angeles after his contract expires this summer.
Trading for Rondo, though, won't be easy. There's a lot of competition for the All-Star point guard, with the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets now appearing to be the frontrunners to land him. What's more, Rondo reportedly would be willing to re-sign with Dallas or Houston in the offseason if he's traded to either team.
Per Ken Berger of CBS Sports:
"With Celtics president Danny Ainge seriously engaging several teams on Rondo trade scenarios, a league source told CBSSports.com Thursday that the point guard is open to re-signing with at least two of them - the Mavericks and Rockets....
Given Rondo's looming unrestricted free agency, any deal would have to come with assurances that he'd be willing to re-sign with his new team. While those discussions have yet to take place with agent Bill Duffy since no trade agreement is in place, a person familiar with Rondo's thinking said the possibility of competing for championships in Dallas or Houston intrigues him."
The Sacramento Kings are also purportedly pursuing a trade for Rondo.
