Los Angeles Lakers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
Re-signed Rajon Rondo
Understanding the impact of Rajon Rondo on winning basketball is an enigma few seem capable of cracking, and Rondo himself must take pleasure in the confusion he sows.
Watch a random game on NBA League Pass or local channels and you see a washed-up point guard who cannot shoot, finish or defend.
Watch Rondo in the playoffs, however, or on national television against a rival team and suddenly the old Rondo is back — whipping passes into tight windows, spotting up from beyond the arc, and using years of experience to snatch the ball from passing lanes.
Therefore the Lakers must be hoping that “playoff Rondo” shows up on a true contender more often than he has on his most recent teams. His performance in other stops, including last year in Los Angeles was inconsistent at best, lackadaisical at worst.
Last year he was a solidly negative player for the Lakers; can he be more this year?
Rondo may be the token starter for the team unless they truly embrace “point LeBron” and surround him with wings. The Lakers would strongly benefit from Rondo improving his 3-point shot, as his 35.9 percent from deep last season is below average for a guard.
The silver lining for the Lakers is that Rondo took a significant discount on last year’s exorbitant $9 million salary. He’ll make $5.2 million over the next two seasons with the Lakers, a manageable number for a player who still has the outline of the player he once was.
He will likely provide the Lakers with little but minutes next season, but the options available for the money the Lakers could offer were not much better.