Lakers Cool On Lucrative Offer To Rondo ( Ding )

What if the Lakers can't get any top targets to take their money, which they need to spend this summer before most of the league gets TV-money-driven cap space in 2016? Would Buss circle back to his initial trust in Rondo, indulge him with big money and present him to frustrated Lakers fans as the marquee offseason addition?

That's when I'll start believing the anti- Jim Buss sentiment.

 

I think that was more speculation on Ding's part. If Rondo comes here, it will be at a huge discount; not because Rondo desires that outcome but because there won't be many teams on the market clamoring for his services this summer...

 

So basically that article confirms that Rondo is pure garbage.

 

No, not at all. The Lakers position is simply this; they don't hate Rondo and they're not as high on him as they were probably at the beginning of the season. I think the word is lukewarm. If Rondo comes in at a bargain price, and they have cap-space, there's a possibility he could sign here. I think Kevin mentioned a 1-year deal with a team option; that might work. Give him an audition; if it works great, if not, move on.

 

That's how I took it as well. That would pretty much be the only way I could go along with this. Small, one year deal with a team option.

 

It's a tough call for me as a fan at this point. I am not against us putting together a young squad they can grow and get better over time. But I have to be honest and acknowledge that I'm not sure how many more seasons like this season I can really take. That was just brutal and really took its toll.

 

Why does it seem like the Lakers are under pressure to sign Rondo? I don't get it.

I think the notion of "failing to sign a big-name would be devastating for the Lakers" is getting way too overblown. I mean, we were considered contenders when the 2013 season started. Injuries are what plagued us most. The so-called 'pressure' is manufactured by the media. If we keep our pick, it is still a huge step in the right direction, even by our standards.

If the reason behind signing Rondo is primarily damage-control (to minimize criticism), I would be disgusted by our decision.

 

I don't think its so much that the Lakers feel pressure to grab Rondo but that the front office is under pressure to make some moves to improve the team. I also think they want to shake the narrative that no one wants to play for the Lakers.

 

There's no pressure to sing Rondo nor did the piece by Ding even insinuate the notion of the Lakers organization being under pressure to sign Rondo. If that's the message you're getting, I think you're misinterpreting the article. Actually, if we sign Rondo it would garner more criticism and wouldn't be seen as damage control at all. Have you not seen the outrage by fans on this board by even mentioning the name Rondo (including myself)? If anything fans will criticize the FO even more for their backwards thinking for singing a point because of A.) Clarkson's emergence B.) Rondo's declining game C.) Rondo potentially impacting the locker room negatively.

The point of the piece is simply this; the Lakers don't hate Rondo, but they have bigger needs in free agency they will try to address FIRST, and if Rondo happens to be there and we're in a position where we have cap-space, we've addressed most if not all our goals in free agency, and he's coming to us at a bargain of a 1-year deal with a Team Option included, then the Lakers will take a look at him. You have every right to be disgusted with that, but a risk (Rondo) managed is better than not being managed at all, right? It's better than the alternative i.e. throwing a max contract when he doesn't deserve than saying Rondo 'we need you, come fix us, please.' That's the difference between managing a risk and being desperate. We're not desperate.

 

Yeah I get that, but that will only increase pity from other teams. Signing Rondo will only make us look desperate.

 

I get the Ding article. It is well-written.
I'm just trying to get the bottom of the Laker's persistance regarding Rondo. Every other team considers him a cancer, except us. I think our FO is desperate.

 

Gotcha. That's where we differ; I don't think it's desperate at all. Desperate to me is giving Rondo $10-12 million a year for 3-4 years; in essence he'll probably get something in the range of $3-5 million a year with a Team Option.

 

I agree, except 10-12 would imply retardation in our front office.

Why do you think they are still going after him though? He's clearly not a good fit for our team.

 

They still see some value in him at the right price, IMO. They probably figure if we don't land a guard in the draft, Lin bolts, then we're probably looking at Ronnie Price backing up Clarkson. He's also a 'name' even if he's resting on his past laurels, and quite honestly, I think in a much less reduced role might still be effective. Nothing is set in stone, though. I still think their is a chance Lin comes back. We'll see...

 

Thank you front office for letting us breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Only deal I would consider Rondo on is a one year, non guaranteed one. That way the second he poisons the young kids or the locker room or gets into it with Scott, we can kick him out the door.

backup PGs I'd sign before Rondo:
Mo Williams
Patrick Beverly
Aaron Brooks
Beno Udrih
Jameer Nelson
JJ Barea
Andre Miller
Shane Larkin
Cory Joseph
Norris Cole
or bring back Ronnie Price

 

Yeah, too bad they see value in Rondo's name and not his game. We could get a much better player for $3-5 million.