The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Rajon Rondo.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers agreed to send Rondo to the Cavs in exchange for Denzel Valentine.
Sources ESPN: The Cavaliers have agreed to trade Denzel Valentine for the Lakers for Rajon Rondo. The Lakers are expected to forgo the partially guaranteed deal with Valentine and create an open-list position.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 31, 2021
Los Angeles is expected to forgo the partially guaranteed deal for Valentine to make one more spot on the roster.
The Cavs are looking for a new point guard after Ricky Rubio was ruled out of the season with an ACL tear in his left knee on Tuesday.
Rondo, who has been looking for a bigger role, will now take on most of the rest of Rubio’s time.
Rondo is in his 16th season, averaging 3.1 points, 3.7 assists in 18 appearances for the Lakers. Rondo is currently within the league’s health and safety protocols.
Commercial grade
Cavaliers
This is an unnecessary move for the Cavs, who are in dire need of a guard after Rubio’s season-end injury. Aside from Rubio, Cleveland is also without Collin Sexton, who had to miss the season with a torn meniscus and the move comes while Darius Garland is implementing health and safety procedures.
Bringing in Rondo tackles the gameplay needs and adds a veteran presence to the youth dressing room of a team with aspirations to really make some noise in the post-season.
Good because Rondo’s addition is theoretical, he’s not necessarily the player he used to be – he’s in his 16th season, will be 36 in February and his average isn’t exactly the same. necessarily jump off the page. Rondo will provide invaluable leadership and mentoring to Garland, and once the knockout rounds arrive, he’ll still be capable of creating big plays like he did during the Lakers’ championship run in 2018. 2020.
Class: REMOVE
Lakers
There’s not much to see here for LA, which just frees up a spot on the list with the move.
The Lakers could make a splash with their spot on the free roster as they search for answers to turn around a disappointing season. They could sign a player like Stanley Johnson under the standard NBA contract or buy back more players if general manager Rob Pelinka makes a bigger move.
Seeing as it doesn’t move the needle much, there’s not too much to write home about anyway.
Class: C +
– Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
