Rajon Rondo stated that he wanted to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. "Absolutely. I mean, the only way we can go from here is up. So, I don't know what the future holds as far as the summer -- if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don't come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it's a great organization. I can't say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They're really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow," said Rondo. Rondo added that he was looking for something more long-term than the 1-year deal he signed with the Lakers last offseason. "As far as long term, maybe not like a six-year deal, but you know, I'm only 33."<doc-sep>Part of the goal this season for the Lakers was to see how their players — from the young core through the veterans on one-year contracts — meshed with LeBron James. Could they play together? That would determine their future with the franchise. Here are the net ratings of other Lakers when paired with LeBron this season: Josh Hart: +4.8 Lonzo Ball: +3.1 Kyle Kuzma: +2.9 JaVale McGee: +1.6 Brandon Ingram: +0.9 Rajon Rondo: -5.5 Rondo, finishing up a one-year contract with the team for $9 million, is a free agent this summer but wants to return to the Lakers, he told Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Absolutely,” Rondo told ESPN when asked if he wanted to come back to the Lakers next season. “Absolutely. I mean, the only way we can go from here is up. “So, I don’t know what the future holds as far as the summer — if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don’t come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it’s a great organization. I can’t say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They’re really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow… “As far as long term, maybe not like a six-year deal, but you know, I’m only 33.” What happens to Rondo — and McGee, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and everyone else on one-year contracts (and even guys on longer-term deals) — is completely up in the air. The Lakers are going to go big game hunting in free agency (or via trade) this summer, looking to get another star to pair with LeBron, then every other roster decision will come after that move. Plus, the Lakers almost certainly will have a new coach, and they would be smart to get bench and role players that fit with the style-of-play that coach prefers. Injuries — and a suspension for spitting in the face of Chris Paul — have limited Rondo to 42 games this season with the Lakers, where he averaged 8.7 points and 7.9 assists per game. Luke Walton has praised Rondo’s decision making and leadership on the court, and he’s improved to shoot 35.6 percent from three. That said he struggled with his shot inside the arc and has a troubling true shooting percentage of 47. His defense is an issue, he was once an outstanding defender but those days are gone. Rondo is, at this point, at best a replacement level NBA player. The Lakers might bring him back anyway. This front office is unpredictable.<doc-sep>Jae C. Hong/Associated Press Point guard Rajon Rondo said Friday he "absolutely" wants to remain a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2019-20 NBA season. Rondo, an unrestricted free agent after the season, told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com the "only way we can go from here is up" as the Lakers' disappointing campaign nears its conclusion. "So, I don't know what the future holds as far as the summer—if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don't come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it's a great organization. I can't say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They're really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow." Rondo is set to complete a one-year, $9 million contract signed with L.A. in July and noted the original discussions included talk about a potentially longer deal, per McMenamin. "We talked about it," he said. "As far as long term, maybe not like a six-year deal, but you know, I'm only 33." 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He shined Friday with 17 assists and five steals in a 129-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He ranks 58th among qualified point guards in player efficiency rating and 91st at the position in ESPN's real plus-minus. Rondo's future in Los Angeles depends heavily on what other moves the Lakers make this summer. Center JaVale McGee also said he was open to returning to Los Angeles. "Of course I wouldn't mind coming back to the L.A. Lakers, one of the most historic franchises in the league. That's a given," McGee said, per Kevin Ding of NBA.com. "But you know how the offseason goes and how free agency goes and how teams go when they feel a necessity. If they feel they need me, then they'll bring me back." McGee, like Rondo, signed a one-year contract last offseason. L.A. will likely be linked to just about every high-profile free agent and trade target during the offseason as the front office looks to upgrade the roster around LeBron James. How much cap space is left after that expected spending spree will determine whether Rondo could return. If not, he shouldn't have much trouble generating interest as a backup point guard on the open market.<doc-sep>Rajon Rondo was signed to be a placeholder. On a micro scale, he was brought in to force Lonzo Ball to raise his game and earn his starting job back after knee surgery, which he eventually did. On a macro level, he was brought in to save a seat for a real superstar by taking only a one-year deal. Everyone understood that arrangement when it was made. Rondo was never meant to be a long-term piece. Just don't tell him that. Dave McMenamin of ESPN asked Rondo if he wanted to come back to the Lakers next season, and he seemed more than open to the idea. "Absolutely," Rondo responded. "Absolutely. I mean, the only way we can go from here is up. "So, I don't know what the future holds as far as the summer -- if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don't come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it's a great organization. I can't say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They're really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow." Fortunately, Rondo wanting to come back is only part of the equation. The Lakers have to actually want him back to make that happen, and it would take a special sort of incompetence for that to be the case. While it would be unfair to say that Rondo singlehandedly knocked the Lakers out of the playoff hunt, it wouldn't be entirely inaccurate. The Lakers have been outscored by 10.2 points per 100 possessions when he has played since the All-Star break, per NBA.com. When he sits? The Lakers are outscoring opponents by 11.2 points. Virtually every Lakers game in that span has followed the same pattern. The starters, with Rondo, fall behind. The bench, led by Alex Caruso, tightens the game back up. Rondo proceeds to lose it. Ignore the counting stats, the fancy passes and the resume. Rondo does not contribute to winning basketball anymore. He is a stat-hunter who makes not even the slightest attempt to play defense. The Lakers shouldn't even bring him back for the minimum because it would only cost Caruso minutes that he has rightfully earned. Fortunately, Rondo probably won't take the minimum. He'll want to be paid like the All-Star he was rather than the has-been that he is. Considering the Lakers' loftier ambitions for their cap space, they won't be willing to make a major commitment to Rondo, and his time with the team will end. In the end, it won't matter if Rondo wants to come back. He hasn't earned the right to come back, and that should be the difference<doc-sep>
It hasn't exactly been the type of season that the Los Angeles Lakers imagined when the franchise signed the likes of LeBron James, JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo during the offseason. Rondo has missed significant game action due to injury, but still managed to enjoy his time with the team. The veteran point guard told ESPN's Dave McMenamin in a recent interview that he would "absolutely" love to return to the Lakers if the team has interest in bringing him back. "Absolutely," Rondo told ESPN when asked if he wanted to come back to the Lakers next season. "Absolutely. I mean, the only way we can go from here is up. "So, I don't know what the future holds as far as the summer -- if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don't come back. Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it's a great organization. I can't say enough about the staff and the people who work here. They're really kind and helpful, so I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow." Rondo signed a one-year deal with the Lakers in the offseason after spending the 2017-18 season with the New Orleans Pelicans. In fact, Rondo and Julius Randle ended up switching teams because Randle signed with the Pelicans on the exact same day. The veteran guard has enjoyed a productive season despite missing 31 games due to multiple hand injuries. Rondo has put together averages of 8.7 points, 7.9 assists and 5.2 assists while shooting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc in 42 games this season. Rondo is coming off a season-high 17 assists in a 129-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It marked the 16th time this season that the Lakers guard registered double-digit assists. The Lakers, back in action on Sunday against the Pelicans (6 p.m. ET -- watch on fuboTV with the NBA League Pass extension), obviously have a ton of decisions to make this offseason with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, McGee and Lance Stephenson all becoming free agents in addition to Rondo. Rondo has been an integral part of the team's back court, especially with Lonzo Ball out for much of the season.