Rajon Rondo is expected to be one of the top targets in NBA free agency this year and teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, NY Knicks, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings could be interested in signing the free agent point guard, as he is not expected to be back with the Dallas Mavericks after his trade from the Celtics.
Rondo comes into the offseason as one of the top guards on the market along with Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and Brandon Knight and those players should be targets for the Knicks and the Lakers. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are interested in signing Rondo, but only at "a certain price", while the Knicks also could be in the mix, but may want younger players. The Knicks have a ton of cap money to spend and they are expected to sign at least two big name free agents.
Rondo did not have a good run with the Mavericks after getting traded and that could hurt him on the market with some teams. Rondo was expected to be a target for the Lakers and the Knicks, but there is a chance teams like the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers could be options. The Rockets were one of the teams interested in Rondo at the trading deadline and with some uncertainty surrounding Patrick Beverley, he could be an option.
Dragic is expected to be a top target for the Rockets, Knicks and Lakers and that could have an effect on Rondo and his market as well. Dragic previously played for the Rockets, but according to Marc Stein at ESPN, the Miami Heat are likely to keep Dragic on a long term team. Dragic was traded to Miami and they can offer him the most money and the longest contract. If Dragic stays in Miami, it could cause the Lakers, Rockets and Knicks to chase Rondo.
According to Bleacher Report, the Lakers are interested in signing Rondo, but sources have reported that the team will not break the bank for him. The Lakers are projected to have over $25 million in salary cap space and they may target a number of players, including Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe. Sources have reported that the Lakers could sign Rondo, but only at some type of "discount", which means not a max contract offer from Los Angeles.
The run with the Mavericks could cause some teams to re-think giving Rondo a max contract, as he has not been as explosive as he was before his injury with the Celtics. The Mavericks did not give Rondo a playoff share and that situation ended in a bad way and he never meshed with the team. Rondo is still an ace defender and a strong point guard, but his numbers were slightly down this season.
Rondo averaged 10 assists and 11 points per game last season and the year before that he averaged 12 points and 11 assists, but in 2012-13, he played in a combined 68 games, which is what he played in this season. Rondo also could get attention from the Kings or the Pacers, as both teams were mentioned as options at the trade deadline by Marc Stein at ESPN.