According to The Athletic reporter Shams Charania, multiple sources revealed that the Lakers traded guard Rajan Rondo to the Cavaliers. According to previous reports, the Cavaliers' move was intended to fill the team's backcourt depth after Rubio's injury, after the Cavaliers officially announced that the team's defender Ricky Rubio suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was expected to be reimbursed for the season.
At the same time, according to ESPN reports, a number of sources revealed that the Lakers will get guard Denzel Valentine, but the Lakers are expected to cut part of Valentine's guarantee contract to free up a lineup space. For the Lakers and Cavaliers, this is undoubtedly a win-win deal, the Cavaliers' record this season is not bad, currently ranked 5th in the East with a record of 20 wins and 15 losses, and this season is very promising to enter the playoffs, but with Rubio's injury, the Cavaliers are in great need of an organizational guard to act as the organizational brain of the team to ensure that they can be more confident of reaching the playoffs, and Rondo's playoff experience is undoubtedly helpful to young Cavaliers players.
Speaking of the Lakers, so far in the regular season this season, Rondo has averaged 16.1 minutes per game for the Lakers, with 3.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. There is no doubt that the current Rondo does not provide much combat power for the Lakers, plus the Lakers themselves have a lot of experienced veterans, so they do not need Rondo's teaching much. Compared to Rondo, who is already 35 years old, the Lakers now need some young people more.
More importantly, there are many defenders in the current Lakers lineup, and it is basically impossible to give Rondo a guarantee of playing time, and in the last 3 games, the Lakers have not let Rondo play. As can be seen from the recent games, the Lakers need forward players more at this stage, James's continuous output in the recent period is an explosion, but from the team's long-term point of view, such a style of play is extremely risky, and the Lakers, who have experienced the tragedy of Kobe Bryant's Achilles tendon rupture, obviously do not want James to fall under injury.
Therefore, many fans believe that the Lakers sent away Rondo mainly to free up the quota, so that they can officially sign 25-year-old forward Stanley Johnson, Johnson has just signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers, and currently plays 3 games for the Lakers, averaging 27.3 minutes per game, getting 7.7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 47.1%, although the three-point shooting rate is only 20%, but it must be admitted that Johnson's arrival has made the Lakers' front line a certain supplement, It also really gave James a little respite.
Especially Johnson's defense, compared to his offense is more exciting to the Lakers, before the Lakers lost to the Nets, Johnson staged a wonderful defense against Harden, even James and Lakers interim coach David Fitzdale praised him, so the Lakers in the end if they choose to keep Johnson is really not surprising, he can become James's new replacement.
At the same time, this transaction also makes people have to sigh, the key moment can indeed send assists to the Lakers or James' old club Cavaliers, to know that last season, the Cavaliers sent assists to the Lakers, when the Lakers wanted to sign Harrell and others in the offseason, in order to make some space, they chose to trade McGee, at that time, the cavaliers chose to take over, many fans laughed, when the Lakers need space or quota, the Cavaliers are always willing to come to help, but also a good pair of brothers.