On December 31, Beijing time, according to the famous Shams, the Lakers and the Cavaliers reached an agreement on the issue of Rondo's stay, and the Lakers' Rondo will be traded to the Cavaliers. Shams then reported more on the deal, with Rondo swapping owners with Valentine, but the Lakers are expected to cut Valentine soon (Valentine has been underperforming this season, averaging just 2.9 points and 1.7 per game) to make room for a slot in the big roster. Rondo himself was eager for a more important position, and the Knight was just able to meet Rondo's request.
The deal is good for both sides, for the Cavaliers, after the team's first ball carrier Sexton was reimbursed for the season due to a knee injury, the team has not had many options in the guard line, this season with Garland and Rubio's joint play, the Cavaliers' record ranked fifth in the East, giving fans a big surprise. But luck is not on the side of the Cavaliers, and on December 30, Rubio, who had another spring in the season, also suffered a knee injury and was reimbursed for the season. Coupled with Garland, who triggered the health and safety regulations on December 28 and was quarantined, there is no one available on the defender line. Rondo's joining at this point in time can be described as a blessing in disguise, solving the urgent need for the Cavaliers, and fans also hope that Rondo will lead the Cavaliers to a better ranking.
For the Lakers on the other side of the trade, the team lineup of mid-guard redundancy, this season the team did not reuse Rondo, Rondo did not make any chances, averaging only 3.1 points and 3.7 assists per game, rather than wasting a place in vain, it is better to free up a position to regularize Stanley Johnson's temporary labor contract. Stanley Johnson was recruited by the Lakers after a total of 3 games, although the average data per game is not very eye-catching 7.7 points with 3.7 rebounds, but the overall shooting rate reached 47.1%, the defensive end can make a lot of contributions to the team, just three games have won the team, fans alike, the Lakers urgently need energetic young people and defensive end of the energy players, Stanley Johnson may be able to do it.
This deal can also help the Lakers save part of the luxury tax, according to expert Hollinger calculations, direct hard cut Rondo, renew Stanley Johnson, the Lakers will increase the luxury tax of 5.9 million US dollars, and with the Knights first and then cut, Valentine and the Cavaliers signed a contract guarantee part of only 500,000 US dollars, which will save the Lakers about 3.1 million US dollars in luxury taxes. As the Owner of the Lakers, the Bath family has not been labeled as a rich and coarse, compared to the Clippers owner Ballmer who bought a team only for hobbies and pleasures, warriors boss Lacob, etc., the Lakers are all of the Bath family, and the Lakers have to be careful in team operation. In addition, this deal will also win a $1.7 million deal exception for the Lakers, although the amount of 1.7 million is not large, but it has left a backhand for the Lakers, Pelinka, and a certain amount of room for the Lakers' subsequent transactions.
The deal was a win-win for both sides, and Cavaliers fans happily expressed their expectations of "riding Rondon Strong". The Lakers have let the fans see hope, not afraid of anything, afraid that the Lakers management will see that there is no hope for the championship this season, and immediately put it in place and do nothing. From this point of view, the Lakers are also trying to find a way out of the predicament.
For Rondo personally, the Lakers are benevolent and righteous, taking a championship not to say, turning around and taking advantage of the champion to fool the Eagles into signing a pension contract. After the poor performance was cut, the Lakers picked it up and offered a basic salary of $2.64 million. Although Rondo is indeed only a marginal figure in the Lakers this season, but now the Lakers also respect Rondo's wishes, let Rondo play freely with the Cavaliers, compared to the league's other giant Celtics, the Lakers do have a lot of humanity. Let's expect Rondo's performance in the Cavaliers, while also waiting for the Lakers, what magical operations Perrinka will do to save the team.