Troy Taormina – USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be one of the top destinations for Rajon Rondo this summer. It has been noted throughout the season that Kobe Bryant respects Rondo and would like to play with him. However, the organization may not want Rondo to be their big free-agent signing, as he had a rough second half of the season and clearly is not the same player that he once was.
Rondo excelled in Boston when he was surrounded by veterans and a strong coach. He had star players to throw the ball to, but who were also elite mid-range and 3-point shooters. They were comfortable letting him have the ball in his hands to set up his teammates, and there were enough scorers to utilize his unique passing ability.
On defense, Rondo was arguably one of the best perimeter defenders, utilizing his intelligence, length, and athletic ability to guard a wide array of players. He had strong defenders next to him which allowed him to gamble even more, greatly playing to his strengths.
The problem is that he is no longer the same player, and has struggled to adapt with different lineups and coaches. His inability to shoot makes him ineffective when he does not have the ball in his hands, and he often times checks out during games. His inconsistency and previous trouble meshing in locker rooms make it tough to justify paying him a lot of money.
Rondo will surely be looking for a bigger contract, but the Lakers should be hesitant to give him one. He is coming off of a tough season, and needs to prove that he can return to playing at a high level. It would be a large risk, as he could either be a positive or a huge detriment to the younger players and the culture that the organization is trying to rebuild.
If the Lakers can convince Rondo to take a one-year deal, then it may be worth it as they need to gamble on someone in order to improve their roster. But they will have to play their cards right, or it could set them back even further.
