The Los Angeles Lakers may need to act fast if they want to sign veteran point guard Rajon Rondo to a one-year deal. Although it has been reported there’s mutual interest between Rondo and the Lakers, the one-time NBA champion is weighing his options with a new team having emerged as an interested party.
According to Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Rondo is set to meet with the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday:
The New Orleans Pelicans sent a contingent of officials to Louisville on Thursday to meet with free-agent point guard Rajon Rondo about a possible one-year deal, league sources told ESPN.
Over the past few weeks, Rondo and the Lakers agreeing to a one-year deal seemed like a foregone conclusion. Both sides had an interest in making it happen, but no deal has come to fruition and it may never happen if he feels New Orleans is a better fit.
If Rondo agrees to sign a short-term deal with the Pelicans, he’ll once again join forces with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. Rondo played well in his one season playing alongside Cousins with the Sacramento Kings before signing with the Chicago Bulls last summer.
Rondo will be in a similar situation in comparison to Lakers if he agrees to a deal with the Pelicans. The veteran would likely backup rookie Lonzo Ball in Los Angeles and would definitely backup the recently re-signed Jrue Holiday in New Orleans, though the Pelicans are reportedly interested in playing Holiday off the ball.
It could come down to a matter of money with the Lakers only being able to offer their mid-level exception of $4.3 million or his relationship with Cousins. Either way, Rondo’s future still remains in limbo with no telling whether he’ll sign with Los Angeles, New Orleans or another team that may emerge.
