2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Rajon Rondo: 1 year, $9 million (Los Angeles Lakers)
Rondo is signing a one-year deal with Lakers, per source. https://t.co/wDG7BO7hLk
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018
Sources: Rajon Rondo is signing a one-year, $9M deal with Lakers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018
By itself, signing Rajon Rondo to a one-year deal — even an overpay at $9 million — isn’t the problem. Everyone knows what Playoff Rondo can do, he could be a positive influence on Lonzo Ball and on paper, his extremely high basketball IQ seems like a good fit with LeBron James. Rondo came to life in the playoffs for the Pelicans last year, averaging an eye-popping 10.3 points, 12.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game. He even canned 42.1 percent of his 3s.
No, the problem is how the Los Angeles Lakers got to this point, which is by renouncing the rights to restricted free agent Julius Randle. In doing so, the Lakers freed up about $12.5 million … which they promptly used on a 32-year-old point guard who — for all his high IQ and recent mentorship of young players — has also been known to ruffle feathers within his own locker room.
Not only does this put another non-shooter alongside LeBron, it potentially infringes on Ball’s playing time. Renouncing Randle and signing Rondo to a one-year deal will preserve cap space for a run at Kawhi Leonard in 2019, which is crucial, but passing on Randle’s potential at 23 years old could come back to haunt the Lakers.
Between Rondo, Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee, LeBron’s patience will be tested pretty quickly. Wasn’t the whole point of migrating to L.A. to enjoy life and basketball more? Or does every LeBron team need 2-3 players for the King to hurl incinerating death glares at on a nightly basis?
Bourguet Grade: C-
Hoops Habit Grade: A-