The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are struggling big time this season, and both teams are expected to make drastic changes in the summer to turn their fortunes around.
According to NBA analysts Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Lakers and Knicks are expected to be among the most aggressive teams on the free agency market in the offseason, and both teams are eyeing Rajon Rondo.
Rondo will become a free agent after the 2014-15 NBA season and is expected to listen to several teams. The Dallas Mavericks, who traded for Rondo late last year, are favored to keep the All-Star point guard, but Deveney revealed that the Lakers and Knicks are also planning to lure the 28-year-old playmaker.
"There will be other teams involved in the pursuit of Rondo," Deveney wrote. "The Lakers have long expressed interest and still are expected to be among the first in line in the bidding for Rondo. The Knicks -- yes, even with the triangle offense -- are already certain to be in the mix, too."
The Lakers are in dire need of another superstar to play alongside Kobe Bryant, who was seen having breakfast with Rondo last month in Boston. On the other hand, the Knicks have made it no secret that Rondo is one of their top targets in their bid to improve their chances next season.
Most NBA analysts are convinced, though, that Rondo will likely stay in Dallas, especially if the Mavericks go deep into the playoffs this season. The one-time NBA champion guard wants to play for a winner, and the Lakers and Knicks are both far from becoming a title contender.
In an interview with USA Today, Rondo insisted that he is not yet thinking about free agency as he is focused on helping the Mavericks this season. But when pressed to talk about his possible moves in the offseason, Rondo said that nothing is set in stone, but Dallas will have the "upside" in free agency.
"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. I wouldn't say it's wide open, but I wouldn't say it's closed."
In eight games with the Mavericks, Rondo, who spent the first eight full seasons of his NBA career in Boston, averaged 14.0 points to go along with 7.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.
