Los Angeles Lakers: How will Rajon Rondo fit in next year?

How he affects the current roster

The moment it was announced that Rondo was joining the Lakers, everyone immediately thought of Lonzo Ball.

Coming off a rookie season that varies depending on who you ask, Ball was supposed to be LA’s floor general of the future, a guy to lead them moving forward or a complementary piece to LeBron James if he decided to sign with the purple and gold.

With Rondo now in the fold, it’s unclear what the future holds for Lonzo, whether in Los Angeles or somewhere else. Ball is still a Laker, but Rondo’s presence means no guarantee he’ll remain the starting point guard.

For a guy like Lonzo, who appears to lack confidence at times during games, bringing in a player to compete for his job might not be the best endorsement Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka could give, despite their best intentions.

However, given the fact that both play a similar brand of basketball, Rondo could be the perfect mentor for Lonzo, whether that be through sharing past stories or workouts at the facilities.

To his credit, Rondo has been somewhat enthusiastic about the idea of mentoring the UCLA product, praising his IQ and showing a willingness to help out wherever he can.

In regards to the other members on the team, depending on how often he has the ball in his hands, Rondo’s playmaking should create easier shots for everyone on the court, easing the burden on a LeBron who’s grown accustomed to fully running the show.