Lakers trade Rajon Rondo to Cavaliers
January 5, 2022
Rajon Rondo (YouTube)
In a three-way deal on Monday, the Cleveland Cavaliers have found a new point guard with Ricky Rubio out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Ironically, the principal player in the trade involving the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks has the exact same initials as Rubio, as veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is moving from south California to Ohio.
Meanwhile, according to the Cleveland Cavaliers website, the Knicks receive shooting guard Denzel Valentine from the Cavaliers, and center Wang Zhelin and Adelaide’s Brad Newley from the Lakers. The Lakers receive forward Louis Labeyrie from the Knicks.
There is no doubt that Rondo is bringing a veteran presence to the Cavaliers. He will be joining his ninth NBA franchise following time with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers.
So far this season, Rondo has been averaging only 3.1 points per game and 3.7 assists per game in a reserve role while coming off the bench. Expect him to see starting time in Cleveland even though he is 35 years old.
Rondo’s best years in the NBA were with the Celtics, the team he played for in his first nine seasons from 2006 to 2015. In that period of time, Rondo was a NBA All-Star for four straight years from 2010 to 2013, and had a career-high 13.7 points per game in 2009-10 and 2012-13.
It is in the assist category, where Rondo has had his biggest impact. Three times he has led the NBA in assists per game. He had a NBA-leading 11.7 assists per game with the Celtics in 2011-12, 11.1 assists per game with the Celtics in 2012-13, and 11.7 assists per game with the Kings in 2015-16. Rondo also led the NBA in steals per game with the Celtics in 2009-10, as he had 2.3.
Rondo also brings a winning culture to Cleveland. He has won two NBA Finals in his career–2008 with Boston and 2020 with the Lakers.
Fill In The Form Below To Receive Our NBA News, Previews & Tips For Free!
September 12, 2025
Opinion: Josh Giddey may not deserve to be the Bulls highest paid player
The Chicago Bulls made NBA headlines on Tuesday by signing of point guard Josh Giddey to a four year contract worth $100 million Giddey was a restricted free agent, and will keep him in Chicago Read MoreSeptember 12, 2025
Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber out for the season with torn ACL
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions It appears they will once again rely on their winning nucleus from last year significantly this season That is because their first round Read MoreSeptember 4, 2025
Opinion: We could see Dawn Staley coaching in the NBA soon
This past week in the National Basketball Association we found out that the New York Knicks had interviewed Dawn Staley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for their head coaching job We all know that the Read More
Tell Us What You Think Below