The Los Angeles Lakers are on pace to having another disastrous season after losing in their first five games this season, which means that another roster shakeup looms next summer.
The Lakers tried to land big-name free agents during the offseason like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, but they failed to catch a big fish - not because of financial restrictions, but because of their not-so attractive roster.
Next summer, the Lakers are expected to be active on the free agency market again. According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, most league executives are convinced that the Lakers will make a strong push to sign Rajon Rondo next summer.
"There is one player who makes sense in LA next season: Rajon Rondo," Mannix wrote. "Several rival executives believe the Lakers will make a strong run at Rondo next summer, and it's easy to see why. Rondo is young, plays a critical position and shares the same win-at-all-bleeping-cost attitude as Bryant. The Celtics are rebuilding and have a young playmaker in Marcus Smart, which may limit their desire to hand Rondo max money."
But while Mannix is convinced that Rondo will not be with the Celtics next season, Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors believe that the 28-year-old point guard will stay in Boston because it is the only team where he could get a five-year deal when he hits free agency next summer.
"I don't think the C's are going to have a very enticing cast to put around him anytime soon, but Rondo likes Boston and the C's can give him a fifth year in his deal, which is important for a guy who's turning 30 soon and signed for a bargain last time," Myron wrote.
Myron also added that Rondo might opt to sign a one-year deal with the Celtics or any team to become a free agent again in 2016. The salary cap is expected to increase significantly when the new television deal takes into effect in the summer of 2016.
Aside from the Lakers, previous reports indicated that the New York Knicks will also make a strong push to acquire Rondo, who is averaging 12.5 assists to go along with 9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds this season.
