Rajon Rondo rumors: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks could pursue Rondo

According to Jackie MacMullan, Boston Celtics’ point guard Rajon Rondo has reportedly asked for a trade.

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Jay King of MassLive.com believes the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks could pursue Rondo.

"A lot of teams have good-to-great point guards. Some other squads (like the Knicks) have little to offer Boston. The Lakers and a few other rebuilding clubs could use a leading assist man, but might not be able to keep Rondo long term. According to MacMullan, Rondo has already told the Kings, who have shown interest, that he would never re-sign with them."

Both teams could use a point guard like Rondo (although the Knicks did make an upgrade at the position, trading for Jose Calderon in the offseason). Of course, as King points out, the Knicks don’t have the assets to make a deal like that and the players the Celtics would probably ask the Lakers for (power forward Julius Randle, the seventh-overall pick in this year’s) may be too much for the Lakers, especially with the risk Rondo could walk at the end of next season. Plus, the Lakers are the Celtics’ biggest rival and the Knicks are a natural division rival, meaning the Boston fan base would not be happy.

Last season, Rondo was limited to just 30 games as he returned from his ACL injury. He averaged 11.7 points, 9.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 40.3% from the field, 28.9% from beyond the arc and 62.7% from the free throw line. Rondo, who was selected by the Celtics with the 21st-overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, has put up 11.1 points, 8.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 25.2% from three and 62.1% from the free throw line in his eight-year career.

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