Los Angeles Lakers: Players most likely to be traded before deadline

3. Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo has had a tough time staying on the court this season. However, when he has been available, the veteran point guard has been an unmistakable asset for the Lakers. So why would they want to trade him?

Well, for starters, they already have a pretty good point guard in Lonzo Ball. As impressive as Rondo has been this season, he’s not the future of the Lakers’ backcourt. That designation belongs to Ball, who was seen by many as the one of the franchise’s building blocks less than a year ago.

On top of that, Rondo is playing on a one-year deal. That means, when his contract expires come July, he’s free to sign wherever he wants. If the Lakers don’t trade him ahead of the Feb. 7 deadline, he could potentially walk in free agency without providing any sort of return for Los Angeles. While that’s not a prerequisite, it wouldn’t hurt to get some value back.

The other thing to keep in mind is that Rondo’s salary makes him an ideal trade candidate. Seeing as the Lakers are likely targeting a star, they’ll probably need to include one of their rising stars. The problem is that none of them make a ton of money. Throwing in Rondo and his $9 million could be just what Magic needs to make the financials work.

Parting ways with Rondo doesn’t seem ideal, especially with the Lakers in the thick of the playoff hunt. And yet, if he’s the final piece to the puzzle, they won’t hesitate to toss him into the pot.