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.
