The Los Angeles Lakers' stance toward signing soon-to-be free agent Rajon Rondo after the season reportedly has changed. According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, the Lakers - both owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak - are no longer convinced Rondo is worth a max-level contract in July.
Los Angeles may not be a "lock" to sign Rondo after all. Given how the mercurial point guard's season transpired in Dallas, Ding is reporting team sources as saying the Lakers' front office now has reservations about signing the 29-year-old.
"What should be made clear, according to team sources, is that Buss is not the believer he was earlier in the season when it comes to Rondo, and Kupchak is toting enough healthy skepticism that he sees Rondo as value only at a certain low price," Ding wrote Tuesday. "... The Lakers have higher priorities when it comes to spending their precious 2015 salary-cap space. They are hopeful of buying a foundational piece-something they aren't convinced Rondo is."
Ding went on to say although the Lakers have doubts about Rondo's ability to succeed Kobe Bryant as the team's next franchise player, Buss and Kupchak aren't completely turned off to the idea of signing the Mavericks guard.
"For now, though, the Lakers aren't planning anything so bold (as giving him a maximum contract) when it comes to Rondo," Ding wrote. "Just know that at a time when so many do, the Lakers don't hate him."
According to Ding, some of the Lakers' concerns regarding Rondo include: his poor shooting, his fear of attacking the basket because of his poor free-throw shooting, his mushier defense, his age, his surly attitude and the slowness in his step since he tore his ACL in 2013.
While Rondo could help to maximize Bryant's game next season, Los Angeles must weigh the short term against the long term and decide whether Rondo is worth committing a chunk of future cap space to help a player who'll likely retire after next season.
