Los Angeles Lakers News & Rumors: 6 Reasons Lakers Should and Shouldn't Sign Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo is one of the best players entering free agency this offseason.
Rondo has been linked to Los Angeles Lakers for years now, and many NBA analysts believe he could very well end up with the team next season.
Rondo and the Boston Celtics did battle against Kobe Bryant's Lakers twice in the NBA Finals, winning once. As good as Rondo is, he isn't without his flaws. The Lakers have to be careful not to break the bank on a somewhat troubled point guard.
Let's break down the reasons why the Lakers should and should not sign Rondo this offseason.
Why the Lakers Should Sign Rondo
1. Elite Passing
Rondo is your prototypical point guard. He's an elite passer of the basketball having led the NBA in assists per game twice. Rondo averages 8.3 assists per game in his career, and he's shown he put up hug assists numbers with mediocre talent around him. Rondo averaged 10.8 rebounds per game with the Celtics last year. With Jeremy Lin most likely on the way out, the Lakers need another proven ball distributor.
2. Stock is Lower Than Ever
Rondo's struggles in Dallasat the end of last season may have been a blessing in disguise for the Lakers. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith estimates that Rondo cost himself at least $40 million in guaranteed money for his next contract. This could work out great for the Lakers financially. Kobe Bryant has an expiring contract after next season and Jordan Hill has a $9 million team option, which may not get picked up. The Lakers could definitely get Rondo cheaper this offseason compared to last offseason.
3. Age
Rondo isn't going to be the next Magic Johnson for the Lakers, but he could be their franchise point guard long-term. The Steve Nash deal didn't quite work out, and the Chris Paul trade was infamously vetoed. Rondo is just 29 years old, and he's accomplished so much already. The Lakers have a lot of cap space opening up, and signing Rondo to a nice four- to six-year deal could be very beneficial given his young age.
Why the Lakers Should Not Sign Rondo
1. Shooting
There's no doubt about it, Rondo is a very limited point guard. He's not an all-around type point guard like Stephen Curry or Russell Westbrook because of his lack of shooting skills. We've seen time and time again opponents simply leave Rondo wide open knowing he will miss open shots. And, there's free throws. Rondo is one of the worst free throw shooting point guards in the league having made just 39.7 percent of his shots from the line last year. Yes, you read that statistic correct.
2. Somewhat Steady Decline
This kind of goes back to No. 2 above. Rondo's stock is lower than ever for a reason. He's still great, but injuries, lack of a jump shot and motivation are starting to show. When given the correct pieces, like we saw in Boston with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Rondo is as lethal a point guard in the NBA. However, Rondo needs an All-Star cast around him, because of his limited scoring abilities. If the Lakers do sign Rondo, they will have to build a solid squad around him.
3. Chemistry
Rondo didn't really get along with head coach Doc Rivers, reportedly trying to fight him in the locker room back in Boston. Then again, he didn't even get along with Allen when he was in Boston either. Rondo also had a feud with Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle just last season. Not exactly a great sign. Rondo isn't exactly the Tim Duncan of role model players. If the Lakers bring Rondo on board, they need to set the record straight early and often.