NBA Rumors: Rajon Rondo Could Sign With The Brooklyn Nets

While NBA teams cannot officially sign free agents until July 7, rumors are already heating up regarding the possible destinations for some of the league’s most popular players. In addition to yesterday’s draft, there have been numerous trades over the past few days that have involved true impact players, most notably Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague, and Serge Ibaka. Regardless of the recent moves, the biggest news could be coming over the next two weeks. While nothing is imminent, Rajon Rondo, who played with the Sacramento Kings this past season, is interested in signing with the Brooklyn Nets.

As first reported by Marc J. Spears of ESPN, Rondo is interested in joining a team in New York City.

Speaking of Kings, source said their free agent Rajon Rondo is open to staying but also had interest in Knicks & Nets. Rose to NY kills that

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 24, 2016

Since the Knicks recently traded for Derrick Rose, they are no longer a realistic landing spot for Rondo. For a player who was once viewed as the next great point guard, Rondo is now 30-years-old. After winning a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, his career has been somewhat shaky. While he was an NBA All-Star from 2010-2013, he never saw the same overall team success that he did earlier in his career. After Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded, Rondo was also eventually dealt to the Dallas Mavericks, which marked the end of an extremely successful period for the Celtics.

Additionally, Rondo has suffered numerous injuries over the past few years, most notably a torn ACL in 2013, and he has been viewed as a problem in the locker room. Regardless of his injury concerns and issues with coaches, Rondo is still a productive player who brings solid defense to the table every single night. While he has never been viewed as a great shooter, he shot 36.5 percent from the three-point line last season

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As Fansided notes, the Nets were actually a potential team to trade for Rose before the Knicks landed him. While the Nets added a guard to their roster via yesterday’s draft, they still need a veteran presence.

“The Nets were linked to Derrick Rose trade speculations, until the Chicago Bulls traded the former MVP to the New York Knicks for Robin Lopez. Sean Marks and the Nets drafted former Seton Hall guard Isaiah Whitehead and signed former Indiana guard Kevin ‘Yogi’ Ferrell. However, the franchise still lacks a veteran point guard. One option could be a player who has won an NBA championship, Rajon Rondo. According to reports and rumors, Rondo is intrigued with the idea of joining the Brooklyn Nets. He has been one of the most productive point guards in the NBA. For many seasons, the criticisms to his game have been well documented. His below-average shooting ability combined with knocks against his personality.”

While it is unknown what kind of contract Rondo is seeking, it is likely that he is going to receive a multi-year deal. After a difficult season with the Dallas Mavericks in 2014-2015, Rondo signed a one-year deal with the Kings in order to showcase his talents again and prove that he is not locker-room cancer. As a league executive told Sporting News, there is even a chance that Rondo receives a max contract. Whether or not the Nets are willing to give Rondo a multi-year deal for the max remains to be seen, but he may be their best option if their goal is to acquire a veteran point guard who can help develop the younger players on their roster.

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It could all come down to how much the Kings want to bring Rondo back. As Spears reported, Rondo is open to returning to the Kings, but the franchise is in turmoil. After missing the playoffs again, DeMarcus Cousins appears to be unhappy with how the organization handled last night’s draft. Cousins is always involved in trade rumors, so the Kings could be looking to finally move him and start a new rebuilding process.

With the 2016 NBA free agency period set to officially begin on July 7, rumors will continue to connect Rajon Rondo to the Brooklyn Nets.

[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]