Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players most likely to be traded in 2018-19
2. Rajon Rondo
When you look at the slew of one-year deals the Lakers dished out this offseason, what comes to mind? Meme Team? No long-term commitments? A bunch of mismatched puzzle pieces?
It’s easy and understandable to go that route. However, there appears to be a part of the equation that people are overlooking. There’s a very good chance the Lakers dealt out a handful of one-year contracts this offseason because they would serve them well when the trade deadline rolls around.
What am I talking about? Well, let’s think about it.
Making trades in the NBA isn’t easy, particularly from a financial standpoint. Unless both teams are under the salary cap (which is almost never the case), the incoming salaries must be within a certain percentage of outgoing salaries depending on how much is being swapped. NBA trade rules are confusing, but you can read more about them here.
The point I’m trying to make here is Rondo’s $9 million salary will make swapping assets much easier for the Lakers. Last season, trade scenarios often included a number of the franchise’s young players solely because they were needed to make the numbers work. If the Lakers try to acquire a star come February, Rondo’s mid-range money will expedite the process.
Rondo will obviously serve as a quality mentor for Lonzo Ball and capable second unit facilitator. However, when push comes to shove, he also happens to offer significant appeal as a trade chip.