Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo is under heavy criticism after the team lost Game 2 to the Houston Rockets to fall to a 2-0 deficit in the series.
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Rondo spent most of Tuesday night on the sidelines after registering just under 10 minutes in the loss to the Rockets, and he opted not to speak to reporters after the game as his troubles in Dallas continue.
Coach Rick Carlisle insisted that it wasn’t about one guy but instead about the team “being at their competitive best”, according to ESPN, and clearly based on his point guard’s performance on Tuesday, he didn’t feel he got that from him.
This wouldn’t be the first time that the two have clashed following their incident in the regular season where Rondo was pulled from the starting line-up after arguing with his coach during a timeout.
Despite the promises of joining the Mavs and competing for a championship this year, it doesn’t appear as though it will go to plan and that in turn means the door is opening on a move to the Lakers each day.
It is no secret that the Lakers want to acquire a starting point guard this summer as they attack free agency hoping to rebuild and construct a roster capable of getting them back in the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant will likely call time on his career at the end of next season, and he has hardly played down talk of wanting Rondo to join him.
The pair were spotted having breakfast in Boston earlier this season, and it is more than likely that the Lakers will make the Mavs point guard their priority this summer as he doesn’t appear to be ready to re-sign in Dallas while other targets could be more problematic.
The 29-year-old is averaging 8.9 points, 7.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game this season, but something clearly isn’t fitting for him with his current team and ultimately that means a move may be necessary for both parties.
Whether or not a switch to Los Angeles would be better remains to be seen, but there is a sense that his play-making ability and role as a facilitator could be exactly what they need in the back-court to compliment Bryant and other additions they make this summer.
Things can change quickly in the NBA and so by this time next week Rondo may well have played a vital role in getting the Mavericks back in their series with the Rockets.
However, it is becoming increasingly likely that their season ends prematurely and so the talk over the former Boston Celtics star’s future will begin sooner rather later.
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