Rondo on recruitment by Kobe: 'When he speaks, it speaks volumes'

If there's anyone who understood Rajon Rondo when he had a blow up with head coach Rick Carlisle recently, it's Kobe Bryant.

Bryant and Rondo have always seemed kindred spirits, hyper-competitive and cerebral players who care about winning first and the perception or feelings of others second, if at all. It's likely why they're friends, sharing breakfast when the Los Angeles Lakers visited the Boston Celtics in December.

But that visit could have been more business meeting than social call with Rondo, now of the Dallas Mavericks, an unrestricted free agent this summer. Bryant has made it no secret he'll aggressively recruit Rondo, something the point guard appreciates.

"When he speaks, it speaks volumes," Rondo said Sunday of a pitch from Bryant. "It's a compliment that he'd want to play with a guy like me. I'm focused on what I have to do right now. It's impossible to play with Kobe right now."

Bryant didn't continue his recruitment with a return breakfast in L.A. on Sunday, with Rondo saying that Bryant stood him up.

"Asshole," Rondo said, a call-back to Bryant's term of endearment for Rondo from Jan. 2014.

Rondo has said publicly that he's open to re-signing with the Mavericks as a free agent, but the Lakers will have enough cap space to make a substantial offer. If Dallas isn't willing to go to the maximum contract, it's possible the chance to play with Bryant could entice Rondo to make a move.

"I stay in touch with him," Bryant said. "I stay in touch with some other guys, too. I'll look around and talk with management. We'll look at what we can do and should do. Hopefully we'll then have a more competitive team."

The Lakers are on record as valuing youth and flexibility over an all-in approach to maximize Bryant's 2015-16, possibly his final season. That may preclude them from coming too hard at Rondo, who is 29, has a shaky injury history and is averaging 8.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor. 

A solid defender and more-than-capable distributor, Rondo has failed to positively move the needle in terms of on-off court splits with the Celtics and Mavericks this season. There's a growing belief he's not worthy of a max deal that would pay him a substantial salary to age 34, even with a rising salary cap. Bryant and the Lakers may not feel the same.