With the relationship between Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo and coach Rick Carlisle seemingly improving, Rondo may no longer be a free-agent target for the Knicks York Knicks in free agency this summer.
The Knicks have been linked to Rondo for some time, but they may not even get the opportunity to pursue the soon-to-be free agent. Rondo and Carlisle's well-documented blowup earlier this year made it seem inevitable Rondo would depart Dallas as a free agent after the season, but things seem to be improving between the player and the coach, spelling bad news for New York and any other teams interested in chasing him in July.
"Rajon Rondo says Rick Carlisle called him into the coach's office before the game (against Oklahoma City) and quizzed him on the offense. Rondo passed the test," Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com tweeted last week. "... Rondo adds that he and Carlisle are so in sync now that Rondo calls the same plays Carlisle thinks before calling them himself."
Rondo also appears to be fitting into the offense better.
His numbers, which dropped after Boston traded him in December, are gradually getting better. Andrew Tobolowsky of WFAA pointed out the slowly improving numbers, such as Rondo's field goal percentage increasing from 43 percent to 47 percent, as evidence the 29-year-old is acclimating - albeit slowly - to the offense.
Rondo hasn't committed to re-signing with Dallas after the season, but he certainly hasn't ruled it out. The two biggest reasons for Rondo to leave Dallas - discord with Carlisle and not fitting into the offense - seem to be dissipating, likely now putting the onus of whether Rondo re-signs on if Dallas can turn around its recent woes and make a deep run in the postseason.
Rondo was believed to be one of the Knicks' top targets, despite him seemingly not being an ideal fit for the triangle offense. New York's other targets for the 1-spot reportedly include Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic, who's also eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
