With free agency appearing more and more likely for Dallas Mavericks star Rajon Rondo, the Los Angeles Lakers likely have a good chance of signing the point guard in July.
Barring a miraculous playoff run, a split between Rondo and the Mavericks appears imminent. Rondo and coach Rick Carlisle reportedly are at odds over who should be calling the plays, and a number of NBA analysts believe the two sides will part ways this summer.
"Free agency," Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler wrote Monday, offering his opinion as to where Rondo will go after the season. "I wouldn't rule Dallas completely out of the equation, but there is a window now for the Knicks and Lakers, especially if Dragic stays in Miami long-term."
The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw also thinks Rondo will most likely be playing for another team after the season, with the Mavericks likely going after Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight or Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic in free agency.
"I agree that more and more it appears Rondo is a bad fit here," Cowlishaw said Thursday, via The Morning News. "I'm not there yet to say don't even think about signing him because I was in favor of the deal in part because I felt it would help in the playoffs. But it's hard to imagine Rondo being this inefficient for 40 games or so in the regular season, then playing well for a few weeks in the post-season to the point that you say, 'Give him whatever he wants!' Brandon Knight is an option. Goran Dragic is an option."
If Rondo were to test free agency, the four teams most likely to pursue him are the Sacramento Kings, the New York Knicks, the Houston Rockets and the Lakers. Rondo reportedly rebuffed Sacramento earlier in the season, and it's uncertain how well Rondo would fit in the Knicks' triangle offense, which traditionally relies on their 1-guard being able to hit outside shots. Houston could be a frontrunner for Rondo, given their star-studded team, but they'd need to be able to create sufficient cap space to sign him to a big contract.
Although the Lakers are a lottery-bound team, they shouldn't be ruled out. Los Angeles has the big-market allure, and they'd have enough salary cap space to sign him to a lucrative contract. They'll also have a shot at landing a high draft pick, which - in a best-case scenario - could land them Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor, who'd be an instant upgrade to the team's roster.
Rondo reportedly was OK with the idea of staying with Boston through a rebuild, so it stands to reason a big contract, a big market and the power to call plays could be enough to convince Rondo to forego playing for a team built to win now.
