Veteran guard Rajon Rondo is returning to Los Angeles, a place where he won an NBA ring last season. But instead of re-joining the Lakers, Rondo will slip into a Clippers jersey.
The Clippers acquired Rondo in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that will see three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams heading in the opposite direction. The Hawks will also receive cash consideration and two future second-rounders.
The trade was confirmed on Thursday on the Clippers’ official social media.
Rondo has been going through a rough spell to start 2020-21, spending just 14.9 minutes on the floor and averaging 3.9 points for Atlanta. Still, Clippers head coach Ty Lue believes the 35-year-old guard will prove to be a great addition to his team.
The two know each other well since Lue served as an assistant with the Boston Celtics when Rondo was with the franchise.
“He’s fiery; that’s what we need,” said Lue. “He’s tough. He understands the game. And he respects people as a straight shooter and will tell him the truth. That was my biggest thing in Boston, was just being honest with him and telling him the truth and keeping it real with him.”
Rajon Rondo spent 2020-21 with the LA Lakers, proving to be a crucial part of the team’s championship run. While his regular-season numbers were not impressive, he stepped up in the postseason and averaged 8.9 points and 6.6 assists per game.
Rondo left the Lakers in the offseason, signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Hawks as a free agent.
