The Los Angeles Clippers are preparing to poach a point guard from their rivals.
The Clippers are expected to pursue Los Angeles Lakers veteran Rajon Rondo when free agency begins, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein.
Rondo owns a $2.7-million player option for next season but has said he will decline it in order to test the free-agent market, Stein adds.
Rondo, 34, has spent the last two seasons with the Lakers and played a key role off the bench in their recent championship run.
After missing L.A.'s first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers due to thumb surgery, Rondo returned for the conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets. He averaged 10.6 points on 44.4% 3-point shooting along with seven assists, 4.6 rebounds, and two steals while playing 26.6 minutes per contest during the five-game series.
In Game 6 of The Finals against the Miami Heat, Rondo dropped 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 30 minutes to help the Lakers clinch their 17th title in franchise history.
Rondo joined Clyde Lovellette as the only two players to win a championship with both the Lakers and Boston Celtics franchises, though Lovellette won when the Lakers were based in Minneapolis. If Rondo signs with the Clippers and wins a title, he would become the only player in NBA history to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy with both L.A. teams.
