Lakers Won’t Get Into Rajon Rondo Sweepstakes
It looks like Danny Ainge still hasn’t given up on trading Rajon Rondo. Seemingly within hours of the lockout being lifted there were reports of the Celtics looking to move their lone young talent. After a few months of lackluster hoops it is more than evident that the Boston Three Party is over. Thus the Rondo trade rumors are heating up again with ESPN claiming the C’s are “aggressively” trying to trade Rondo.
Yes, the Lakers have a massive need for an upgrade at point guard. This is as obvious as Sacha Baron Cohen acting the fool at a red carpet event. Rondo would also be an ideal fit for the Lake Show as he is a dynamic passer that would help get Mike Brown’s offense out of the pre-shot clock era it’s currently stuck in. Even more to Brown’s liking is the fact that Rondo plays D and would greatly improve L.A.’s chances against opposing point guards.
However the Lakers are in no position to make a deal to Ainge’s liking. With an aging roster in Boston it is obvious that the guys in green are looking to start over with a youth movement. The only talent the Lakers are willing to offer is of the veteran variety. Of those vets the most marketable is Pau Gasol who has a hefty price tag and is getting on in NBA years.
Jim Buss seems highly unlikely to trade Andrew Bynum and he’s about the only player you could imagine Boston being interested in. The problem with that is Drew’s contract calls for more dead presidents than Rondo’s making any possible deal there more involved that it is worth.
Why Ainge would want to trade Rondo is another story and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Naturally you’ve got to give something to get something and Rondo is about the only something anybody would want from Boston at this point. With that aside there is also talk of Rondo being a tough player to coach. That doesn’t mix well with Coach Brown and his issues with strong personalities.
Unfortunately this is yet another mega deal that won’t involve the Lake Show if it even happens at all.
At least Laker fans can take solace in seeing Boston’s JV dynasty dissolving. That Rondo continues to pop up in trade rumors sums up which direction the C’s are heading. It was a nice little run that helped rekindle the best rivalry in sports but in the end was just a tease for the fans in Beantown. They got their title at our expense and we came back to rip their hearts out in the rematch. Thanks for playing, fellas. See you again in 20 years.