Why The Lakers Should Trade For Rajon Rondo This Season

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Rajon Rondo and Kobe Bryant were spotted eating breakfast together in Boston and it almost broke Twitter. Reports of Kobe trying to recruit Rondo hit the airwaves, but both players shrugged it off. The rumors do have some truth to them because Rondo is an unrestricted free agent this summer and if the Celtics really valued him as their franchise player, he would be locked up by now. Danny Ainge can deny Rondo’s availability, but once Ray Allen departed for the Heat years ago, then Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were traded, Rajon is the only star left from the 2008 NBA Champion team. When the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart as their future point guard, the writing was on the wall for Rondo.

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The question is: Are the Lakers interested? And if they are, what can they possibly offer via trade?

Jeremy Lin plus this year’s first round pick from the Houston Rockets for Rajon Rondo.

But is Rondo worth a max contract? There are also no guarantees he will re-sign with the Lakers if traded for. Rondo is a poor outside shooter and his free throw percentage is simply laughable at 30 percent (somewhere Shaq is smiling about that). When Doc Rivers was Boston’s coach, he often butted heads with Rondo labeling him as stubborn. Even when the Celtics won the title in 2008, the Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) didn’t always get along with him. In fact, Rondo’s closest teammate, Kendrick Perkins, was traded soon after adding to the chip on Rajon’s shoulder. The Lakers need a point guard who can distribute the ball, yet add scoring also. Rondo can get to the hoop, but when defenses pack it in on him, he’s not a threat from outside the key. He’s coming off a series of injuries and there’s question how legitimate his last hand fracture was. The Celtics are in the process of rebuilding, but is Rondo a part of their future?

In terms of 2015 free agent point guards, Goran Dragic is a more well-rounded and offensively chiseled weapon, but it’s not always the most talented players that makes a team better. Rondo may be offensively challenged outside of the key, but as an addition to the Lakers he would be greatly appreciated for his ability to penetrate. Jeremy Lin is a solid penetrator, but he’s inconsistent with his effort. Rondo’s stubbornness would work perfectly in Los Angeles because he would consistently drive to the basket. Since Byron Scott has been hired, the defense has struggled, but surprisingly, their offensive numbers are in the middle of the pack despite their record. What the Lakers lack is off-the-ball movement and with Rondo responsible for the majority of distribution, the team would get much better shots. Rajon has a strong enough of a will to fend off Kobe and demand the floor general duties. What Rondo lacks in outside shooting, he more than makes up for in passing and defense.

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Remember When Kobe Bryant Called Rajon Rondo An A–Hole?

CONTINUE READING: Why The Lakers Should Trade For Rajon Rondo This Season

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Byron Scott has had the luxury of coaching great point guards like: Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving. Adding Rajon Rondo to his list of exceptional pupils would blend seamlessly into his style of coaching. The Lakers haven’t had a strong point guard for a while now and Rondo could be the guy who makes the Lakers offensive engine run. The ball seems to move well when Kobe is on the bench, but with Rondo he would demand the same while Kobe is on the floor. In fact it would work to the Lakers benefit that Rondo isn’t a great outside shooter. He would expect the Lakers to take better shots, closer to the basket by setting teammates up. It’s hard not to love a teammate who gets you the ball in optimal positions to score.

Back in the 2008 NBA Finals, Kobe and Rondo almost went to blows on the court, but that’s why he would be a great fit as Bryant’s teammate. Like Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes before him, Rajon Rondo’s competitive fire is instant admiration for Kobe. Bryant loves to go into battle with teammates who are willing to fight him. If they don’t back down to Kobe, he wants to roll with them. Kendrick Perkins, known as a grouch, reminds us of Kobe’s scowl during the playoffs. If Perkins is one of the Rondo’s best friends in the league, there’s potential for Rondo and Kobe to mesh. They’ve already bonded through affectionately referring to one another as “a–holes.”

— Have You Seen These LIMITED EDITION “Try Me” T-Shirts? —

Rondo is entering the prime of his career and after winning a ring, the last thing he wants to do is go through a rebuild. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry isn’t what it used to be, so switching jerseys from green to gold wouldn’t be terribly difficult. Rondo could be the point guard of the future for the Lakers and instead of waiting until free agency, the Lakers should trade for him now.

The Celtics have been dangling him for some time and if you’re Boston, wouldn’t you rather get something in return, such as Jeremy Lin, a serviceable back-up and nearby Harvard graduate plus a first round pick (from Houston) than lose Rondo for nothing to the highest bidder? Even if Boston doesn’t want to re-sign Lin after trading for him, they can let Jeremy walk and still draft a young player in the off-season. The Lakers can’t roll the dice strictly in free agency next off-season, so if they can deal for Rajon Rondo, they significantly increase their chances to recruit free agents in 2015 with a core of Kobe, Randle, Young and Rondo.

Make it happen, Mitch!

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Remember When Kobe Bryant Called Rajon Rondo An A–Hole?