Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant sounds very much determined to steal point guard Rajon Rondo from the Dallas Mavericks when he becomes an unrestricted free-agent next summer during a recent interview on the Boston Herald.
Bryant, who has openly expressed his desire to play alongside Rondo in the same backcourt, is apparently not giving up yet in his mission of recruiting the All-Star playmaker despite the fact that he's already playing with Dallas Mavericks after he got traded by the Boston Celtics last December.
In an exclusive interview with Boston Herald writer Steve Bulpett, Bryant stressed that he still plans to continue recruiting Rondo in the offseason, even though the Mavs might have significant advantage over other suitors after gambling on the four-time All-Star point guard in a blockbuster trade few weeks ago.
Bryant took particular interest in the late-December trade of Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. He and Rondo had breakfast together when the Lakers were in Boston early last month, and it was widely assumed that Bryant was doing a little early recruiting on the point guard who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban expressed confidence his club can and will sign Rondo to a new deal, Bryant told the Herald he's not about to cease working on getting him to LA.
"No way," Bryant said. "I'm not done. I'm not stopping until he signs an extension."
The 33-year old Bryant is playing in the first year of his lucrative two-year, $48.5 million extension. As expected, Bryant's return hasn't been much of factor for the Lakers, who got buried in the bottom half of a very competitive Western Conference.
However, there's still optimism the proud purple-and-gold franchise could turn things around in a jiffy, especially if they are able to land an elite free-agents this summer. Obviously, Rondo is among those top-flight players the Lakers have been eyeing, and Bryant is lobbying hard for the front-office to exhaust all means in signing the pass-first point guard.
The 28-year old Rondo is averaging 9.3 points, 9.3 assists and 6.8 rebounds in 31 minutes per game this season.
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