After years of constant trade rumors, the Boston Celtics traded Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and two draft picks. While Rondo is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the consensus is that he will ultimately re-sign with Dallas.
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In an interview with USA Today’s Sam Amick, Rondo talked about numerous topics including his free agency this upcoming summer:
“My focus has been basketball, basketball, basketball, not necessarily being a free agent,” Rondo said. “I mean obviously I think (the Mavericks will) have the upside (in free agency). I wouldn’t say it’s wide open (in terms of considering other teams), but I wouldn’t say it’s closed (solely to the Mavericks) either because obviously they are the team that came and got me and from Day One they’ve been very loyal and very supportive in this transition for me.”
While the Lakers were one of the teams interested in trading for Rondo, the team ultimately did not want to part with rookie Julius Randle, who is out for the season with a broken leg. Instead, there were numerous reports that the Lakers would rather pursue the point guard in free agency.
Although Rondo says the Mavericks will have the upside in free agency, the Lakers are projected to have approximately $30 million in cap space to pursue him and other big name free agents like Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler. If the Lakers are unable to sign a big name this upcoming summer, rumor has the team pursuing Tobias Harris of the Orlando Magic.
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