Despite a lack of assets at their disposal, the LA Clippers still managed to pull off a deal ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers have traded Lou Williams and two future second-round picks to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Rajon Rondo. Essentially swapping guards and tossing in some draft capital to sweeten the deal, this move was a headscratcher for some when the news initially came through.
Trading away a key rotational player in Williams certainly opens up the door to a handful of questions for LA that can only be answered with time. Before Rondo makes his Clippers debut in the coming days, here are three unknowns following the aftermath of his trade to Los Angeles.
First question following Rajon Rondo trade — Can the guard increase his production with the LA Clippers?
Hoping he could provide some veteran mentorship and give them a solid backup, the Atlanta Hawks handed Rajon Rondo a two-year deal worth $15 million in free agency. However, the guard could never find his footing with the team, having the least productive start of his entire career.
In 27 games with Atlanta, Rondo averaged just 3.9 points on .400/.378/.500 shooting splits, two rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Those numbers were undoubtedly far below what the Hawks envisioned when they signed him, and the LA Clippers must be under the impression that a change of scenery could turn things around for him.
While the Clippers will not be too heavily reliant on Rondo’s scoring ability, they will need him to increase his production as a playmaker. His 3.5 assists per contest this season are a career-worst over his 14 years in the league. Playing alongside talented players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Serge Ibaka, and the rest of the Clippers should help get Rondo’s production up to par.
Still, it remains to be seen whether he can genuinely get things back on the right track. A new start is oftentimes the best remedy for sluggish play, and playing for a premier contender in the Western Conference should help him flip the switch.