Lakers Free Agency Rumors: Lakers will not 'make push' to sign Rajon Rondo

The Los Angeles Lakers will not pursue Dallas Mavericks free agent point guard Rajon Rondo in free agency this offseason, according to Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Price cites the Lakers drafting Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell second overall in the 2015 NBA draft as the reason they will not target the veteran free agent.

Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, has had difficulty returning to form since tearing his ACL in 2013 and struggled mightily when traded to Dallas early in the 2014-15 season, averaging 9.3 points on 43.6% shooting with 6.5 assists in 46 regular season games with the Mavericks. Rumors of chemistry issues and clashes with Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle, including one incident in which the team suspended Rondo one game for a shouting match with the head coach during a time-out late in the season, persisted all season.

These came to a head in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets, where Rondo played in two games before being declared out for the rest of the playoffs with an undisclosed back injury, with Carlisle stating to reporters that he did not think Rondo would be back in Dallas.

Price also mentioned that the Sacramento Kings are showing interest in Rondo, and the confluence of these factors as well as Mitch Kupchak publicly stating the Lakers would make big men a priority in free agency makes it unlikely we will see Rondo holding up a Lakers jersey at a press conference when the musical chairs of free agency come to a halt.