Rajon Rondo

Kings reportedly aggressively pursuing Rondo in free agency

Published Jul. 1, 2015 9:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Sacramento Kings' drama-filled offseason could add another chapter.

The Kings are aggressively pursuing free-agent point guard Rajon Rondo, according to USA Today. Rondo, who was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Dallas Mavericks last season, was basically told to go away by the Mavericks during their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

Rondo butted heads with head coach Rick Carlisle on multiple occasions and did not play the final three games of the playoff series with what the team said was a back injury. But reports surfaced that Rondo and the Mavs, who opted not to give Rondo a playoff share, reached a mutual decision to part ways after he played only 10 minutes in Dallas' Game 2 loss.

This episode was expected to seriously impact Rondo's free agency. His jump shot has always been a weakness and his free-throw shooting (45 percent last season) has also been a concern. Rondo, who spent his first eight-and-a-half seasons with Boston, helped the Celtics win the championship in 2008.

The Kings have tried to repair their relationship with franchise cornerstone DeMarcus Cousins, who reportedly was being offered to the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 2 pick, along with other pieces, in last week's draft. Kings head coach George Karl reportedly pushed hard to deal Cousins despite not getting approval from Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadive.

The Kings have since reportedly reached out to Kentucky head coach John Calipari, who coached Cousins for one season with the Wildcats. Sacramento drafted former Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein with the No. 6 pick in last week's draft, and the team reportedly is exploring ways to have Karl's contract voided due to cause.

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