Lakers: Why Rondo to the Mavs is a Sign of the Times
By Scott Asai
Dec 7, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the second half of the Boston Celtics 101-93 win over the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers offered Steve Nash and multiple picks for Rajon Rondo and got rejected by the Celtics.
Supposedly the Lakers countered with Jordan Hill and a first-round pick for Rondo and Jeff Green but that got denied as well (although Hill isn’t eligible to be traded until January).
When it boils down, the Lakers came up empty. Again.
Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak still believe L.A. is a desired destination, but their recent track record doesn’t enforce that claim. The Lakers organization’s recent “swing for the fences” approach in free agency has netted them little (just look at their current roster). That’s why the Lakers need to make a trade happen before the deadline.
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The three main ways to acquire new players are through trades, the NBA Draft and free agency. They also happen in chronological order.
But in the Lakers’ case, this season’s ending roster will determine both where they draft in the lottery (most likely outside the top 5) and who is enticed to join the Lakers in 2015-16.
All the talk about “waiting” to sign unrestricted free agents in the summer is dangerous. What superstar wants to be a part of a rebuilding process? Most of the players the Lakers are interested in pursuing are entering the prime of their career. That means they want to win now so they’ll prioritize joining a team well put together.
Those is favor of the Lakers tanking this season don’t take into account the minute probability to land someone like Jahlil Okafor and if lightning strikes and they do, you can’t turn around your franchise quickly with a 19 year-old rookie.
The Lakers need a trade not only to improve the talent level on their current roster, but in order to make L.A. an attractive destination in the future for free agents to sign with. The potential of a team is what superstars usually base their decision on, especially if they’ve been in the league a couple of years and are tired of losing.
The same reason why Carmelo Anthony never really considered moving to L.A. is what the Lakers organization needs to fear. Even if the Lakers can offer more money than their competitors (they do have a couple max spots in the next 2 years available), what is there to look forward to in L.A.?
Today’s CBA helped smaller market teams compete with big markets like L.A., New York and Chicago, but the real equalizer for NBA superstars is branding. It helps to play in the large city, but Kevin Durant is proof you can play in a small market and still make it big. That means the sheer lure of L.A. isn’t what it used to be.
If the Lakers intend to revisit their championship ways, they’d better get serious about trade talks or risk mediocrity being their new identity.