Given the latest developments with the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers may have a better chance of signing Rajon Rondo this summer. Rondo and Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle are reportedly butting heads, making it more likely Rondo leaves in July as a free agent.
It's an open secret the Lakers want to bring in Rondo as a free agent, and the reported "friction" building between him and Carlisle bodes well for the Lakers' chances of doing so. Rondo and Carlisle got into a heated verbal altercation Tuesday night during a timeout, which Carlisle seemingly took out of anger after Rondo appeared to ignore a play call. The two exchanged angry words, and Rondo ended up sitting out the final 20-plus minutes of the game.
While Carlisle dismissed the altercation as being a heat-of-the-moment kind of argument, there may have been more to it. Sources told ESPN there's been a growing discord between the player and the coach over play-calling responsibilities.
"Team sources told ESPNDallas.com that friction had been building between Carlisle and Rondo over play-calling responsibilities, the majority of which the coach has handled. Former Mavs point guard Jason Kidd had similar frustrations during his first season playing with Carlisle, although it never resulted in a public outburst," ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote Wednesday.
The Mavericks want to re-sign Rondo after the season, but butting heads with Carlisle over the play-calling duties may be a sticking point for the mercurial point guard. If Rondo were to test free agency, the Lakers arguably would be his biggest suitor. In addition to having the allure of being a big market team and the cap space to give him a big payday, Rondo would likely have more freedom to run the plays he wants in Los Angeles.
There's also the Kobe factor. Lakers star Kobe Bryant is friends with Rondo, and although he may only play for another season or two, Bryant said in January he would continue to recruit Rondo to L.A. for as long as the point guard remained a free agent.
