The Los Angeles Lakers are staying the course. The team’s front office wants spending power for next summer in NBA free agency, and all signs point to them sticking to that plan as they pursue veterans like Rajon Rondo on one-year deals this summer.
On Tuesday, George Hill decided to take a three-year deal with the Sacramento Kings ending the Lakers’ pursuit of the veteran guard. Now it seems as though Rondo may be the favorite to land in Los Angeles, but no deal is coming down during the July 4th holiday despite considerable interest from the one-time NBA champion, according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times:
Don't expect anything to happen with the Lakers and Rajon Rondo today, per source. But Rondo still very interested in Lakers.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) July 4, 2017
Rondo was recently waived by the Chicago Bulls after signing a two-year deal with the team last summer. The Bulls are going in another direction after trading perennial All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves back on draft day leaving Rondo in limbo in Chicago.
A lot of point guards have either re-signed with their teams or headed elsewhere in free agency this summer making it difficult for a player like Rondo to find a new home in the NBA. If Rondo is willing to play a mentor role and backup rookie Lonzo Ball next season on a one-year deal, it may be a foregone conclusion that he signs with the Lakers.
The team’s options to bolster the backcourt are drying up quickly in free agency. Despite the all the signings and trades over the past few days, the team still has a few options to bring in veterans with Tony Allen, Arron Afflalo, Vince Carter, and Tyler Ennis available on the open market.
