Free agents Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope met with the Los Angeles Lakers today, according to separate reports by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst.

The Lakers have been in the market for a solid addition this free agency period but have been hell-bent on setting up short one-year contracts and potential mentorship programs for their young stars, all while they wait until the following offseason when Paul George becomes a free agent.

Rondo was waived by the Chicago Bulls and is back looking for a team in what's been a relatively poor-paying market for the point guard position aside from the top-tier talent. The 6-foot-1 point guard had a disastrous regular season with the Bulls, but made up for it during his two games in the playoffs, averaging a near-triple-double and showing glimpses of his former self.

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Caldwell-Pope was renounced by the Detroit Pistons in the aftermath of the Avery Bradley trade, making him expendable due to his intended price tag — a commitment that would put the team in handcuffs after making prior long-term mistakes in the likes of Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, who have failed to deliver as expected. The Lakers said they'd be interested in his services if he was willing to take a one-year balloon deal, per Wojnarowski.

Both of these players believe to be starter-caliber and will be hesitant to take a bench role to this youth movement. To make matters worse, the Lakers have missed out on all their prior visits, offering only one-year deals to every incoming free agent that visits the facility.

Magic Johnson‘s short-term rental program hasn't panned out thus far, and it will likely take for the front office to step up their offer in order to lure talent toward Los Angeles.