Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is still hopeful he can recruit Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo to L.A. as a free agent this summer. Rondo, whom the Boston Celtics traded to Dallas in December, is eligible to become a free agent in July and could end up leaving the Mavericks.
Bryant has never been shy about sharing his fondness for Rondo, and on Wednesday he indicated to the Boston Herald that he would continue after the season to try to lure Rondo to Los Angeles.
Per the Herald:
"Bryant took particular interest in the late-December trade of Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. He and Rondo had breakfast together when the Lakers were in Boston early last month, and it was widely assumed that Bryant was doing a little early recruiting on the point guard who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
"While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban expressed confidence his club can and will sign Rondo to a new deal, Bryant told the Herald he's not about to cease working on getting him to LA.
"'No way,' Bryant said. 'I'm not done. I'm not stopping until he signs an extension.'"
Rondo hasn't indicated his plans for after the season, but Dallas isn't necessarily a lock to re-sign him. He's continuing to adapt to coach Rick Carlisle's offense, and as a result his numbers - name his assists, which are down about three per game - have dropped.
If he does test the market as a free agent in July, the Lakers would have the salary cap space to offer him a max contract. Dallas, though, can offer him the most money and also have a more competitive roster.
Los Angeles was linked to Rondo earlier in the season.
