Lakers Rumors: Rajon Rondo meets with Magic Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: A deal could be coming soon with Rajon Rondo, who met with Magic Johnson today in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been pretty quiet in recent days. With the Las Vegas Summer League starting up and free agency slowing down, the focus has turned for some people. But, for Lakers fans, they are still waiting for the team to sign someone.
The Lakers have been shut out in free agency thus far this year. Los Angeles has met with a few players, but their main goal is to keep the salary cap clean in the future, specifically 2018. The Lakers have their eyes set on free agency in 2018, limiting what they can do this year.
The Lakers are intent on not eating into their salary cap space in 2018. As a result, the Lakers have tried giving free agents one-year balloon deals this year like the Philadelphia 76ers did with J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson.
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Los Angeles was not as successful as the 76ers were in executing that plan. George Hill and Dion Waiters were two players the Lakers targeted but to no avail. Hill ended up signing with the Sacramento Kings on a three-year, $57 million deal. Waiters returned to the Miami Heat on a four-year, $52 million deal.
With a hole still in their backcourt and money to spend, the Lakers are still looking on the free agent market. One player the Lakers are looking at is point guard, Rajon Rondo.
Rondo played last season with the Chicago Bulls, the fourth team Rondo has been on in the past three seasons. Rondo and the Lakers reportedly had mutual interest earlier in free agency. The Lakers were going as far as gathering information on Rondo from former coaches and teammates.
When there is smoke, there is usually fire. That saying may ring true once again. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Rondo had a meeting today in Los Angeles with President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson.
Free agent guard Rajon Rondo met with Lakers president Magic Johnson in Los Angeles today, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 11, 2017
Could the Lakers be moving closer to making their first move of free agency? The Lakers have done their due diligence with Rondo, as the gathering of information is not something a team would do unless they had a legitimate interest.
Rondo would be an interesting signing for the Lakers. He would immediately bring a veteran presence to a team that is searching for one in the backcourt. While some people have soured on Rondo, there are still a lot of people within the NBA that like what he brings to the table.
Next: 3 Reasons The Lakers Should Pass On Rajon Rondo
With the Lakers, Rondo would be the mentor for the second overall pick, Lonzo Ball. There is some debate as to whether that is a role Rondo would like being in, but at this point in time, Rondo doesn’t have many options in free agency. The Lakers and Rondo could end up being a good match for each other.