The LA Lakers are heading into the season knowing that 2015 will be a big summer in free agent while a trade for Rajon Rondo is unlikely, the team surely will be targeting him as a free agent along with Eric Bledsoe, Ricky Rubio, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge if they hit the market and that could come after Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash are gone on expiring contracts.
Kobe Bryant is coming back healthy and the Lakers are hoping that he can make it through the season after dealing with a serious injury last year. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers did not go after big name free agents this summer because they feel that next year will have a better crop of players and their team will be better suited to make a splash. The report speculates that Rondo, Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Marc Gasol will be the top players the Lakers will look at and there is a chance Rubio will be available, but that depends on his latest contract.
Rondo is a name that will be getting plenty of attention and along with the Lakers, the NY Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings will be interested. ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein tweeted that Rondo likely will want to hit the free agent market in 2015, meaning signing an extension is unlikely with the Celtics. On top of that, it likely means that Rondo will not sign an extension next season even if he is traded, making a deal harder to happen.
Rondo is coming into the season after playing in 30 games following his ACL injury and that means he will be looking to stay healthy for a full year before hitting the market. The Celtics are not rushing to sign Rondo to an extension because they want to see if he can stay healthy and Rondo isn't rushing anything because he wants to see where the Celtics rebuilding process is at this year. Rondo will make more money on the free agent market and this could be his last major contract.
Eric Bledsoe remains on the market and it's likely that he will be signing a one year deal with the Phoenix Suns. Bledsoe and the Suns have been at odds over a contract and he has asked for a five year deal, while the Suns have offered a four year deal. The Lakers were terrible last season, but they have made a number of additions and they should be an improved team. The Lakers have Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash on expiring contracts and that should help the team set up for next summer.
Pro Basketball Talk reported multiple stories on the Lakers and Bledsoe during the summer, including that the team considered a sign and trade deal earlier in the offseason. Bledsoe also is considered a target for the Lakers if he signs a one year deal and is a free agent next summer. The team may look at him and his backcourt mate Goran Dragic if he also hits the market, but the Suns also will be trying to retain both of those players.