The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to shake things up this summer and are still reportedly interested in acquiring Rajon Rondo despite his recent spat with the Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has made it no secret he wants to play with Rondo in Los Angeles and the veteran guard will help recruit him when the All-Star playmaker becomes a free agent this summer.
According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, the Lakers remain interested in signing Rondo this summer, but not for a maximum deal. The Lakers are planning to sign a game-changer by offering a maximum deal, but general manager Mitch Kupchak is not high on Rondo anymore.
Rondo was reportedly on top of their list of targets, but the 29-year-old point guard failed to live up to expectations this season and his numbers went down since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL during the 2012-13 season.
The former Kentucky standout was also ruled out in their last three games, including in their loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, allegedly because of a back injury. However, multiple reports indicated that Rondo was ruled out not because of an injury, but because of his troubles with the coaching staff and teammates.
ESPN Dallas reported that Rondo and the Mavericks have mutually agreed to part ways. The Mavericks acquired Rondo earlier in the season in a deal that sent Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright, Jameer Nelson and draft picks to the Boston Celtics. Hopes were high in Dallas after the deal, but the experiment did not succeed.
Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki said that he is aware of the situation and he has nothing against the move to acquire Rondo despite losing key assets in the deal.
"It was a deal that was there. It was a deal we went for it, and it just didn't pan out for both sides, and both sides moved on," Nowitzki said. "But Mark and Donnie always pull the trigger to make this team better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it's a gamble and sometimes it doesn't. So you just move on afterwards."
Rondo, who is a four-time All-Star and led the league in assists in 2012 and 2013, averaged 9.3 points to go along with 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 46 games with the Mavericks this season. Before sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee, Rondo averaged 13.7 points and 11.1 assists to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 2012.
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