Rajon Rondo signed a one-year deal with the Lakers last summer just days after LeBron James announced he would be joining the team. The long-time Celtics point guard wants at least one more season playing alongside LBJ in yellow and gold.
“Absolutely,” Rondo said of his desire to come back to the Lakers next season (via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com). “Absolutely. I mean, the only way we can go from here is up.
“So, I don’t know what the future holds as far as the summer — if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don’t come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it’s a great organization. I can’t say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They’re really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow.”
Rondo is making $9MM for his one season in Los Angeles. He said there were discussions last summer about signing a multi-year deal, though those talks never materialized. The point guard suggested that he may look to sign a contract longer than one season this time around.
“As far as long term, maybe not like a six-year deal, but you know, I’m only 33,” said Rondo, who missed 34 games so far this season because of a pair of hand injuries and a three-game suspension for his part in a mini-brawl with the Rockets during the Lakers’ home opener. He chalks those things up to being “just part of the game.”
James admires Rondo’s game and if his comments are any indication, Los Angeles will attempt to bring the 33-year-old back.
“The youth look up to us, look at us as superheroes at times, so to be able to have that fun and that joy we hope it goes back to those guys and to the kids that look up to us,” James said of Rondo’s approach to the game. “Rondo, his energy and him just having fun and being the leader that he is [is invaluable].”
Rondo is the only one of Magics free agent bench players that actually worked out.
If you call an 11.8 PER and 0.0 VORP working out…
No one cares about basketballs flawed attempt to copy WAR
EXACTLY kenley
Right…let’s forego analytics. Also, forget that this is the worst defensive season of his career. Forget his assists are down from his career average and his FG percentage is one of the worst of his career.
He’s either regressing or he’s not a fit with what the Lakers have done this year. Maybe it’s a little of both, but at 33, my guess is he’s regressing. You don’t sign a guy on his trajectory to a multi-year deal unless it’s for the vet min exception after you fill your roster with better players.
VORP has not caught on like WARP, as the task it attempts is probably too difficult in this sport. But PER is at minimum good for comparing backcourt playmaking. It could be tweaked IMO to be more useful in comparing frontcourt with backcourt players. But at least it doesn’t throw negative numbers at you!
If I’m LeBron I get ask to get rid of Rondo because he’s making me look like a bad leader in comparison.
Frankly, Rondo could do better on a team committed to a faster, maximum pace. He’s below average at the pace James prefers. Never should have left the Pels.
Reminds me of old fat actresses trying to get leading lady roles.