For the terminally ill Lakers, a deal is imminent. However, the first person to leave the team was not Westbrook, nor Tucker, but Rondo, and the championship defender was abandoned again.
According to Shams, as Golden Boy Rubio suffered an ACL injury that was reimbursed for the season, the Cavaliers are actively looking for available defenders to contingencies and hope to achieve their goals at a smaller cost. Therefore, the Lakers' Rondo became the object of their pursuit.
This summer, the Lakers played the emotional card to recall Rondo, aiming to activate thick eyebrows. However, in the middle of the season, the Lakers exposed many problems, frantically hoarding guards, so that Rondo gradually became a mascot, he averaged less than 15 minutes per game, and he had no place to play.
Therefore, the Lakers did not hesitate to give him to the knights. That would save $7 million in luxury taxes and free up a replenishment quota. Because Rondo signed a one-year veteran base salary, there is no need to match the salary to reach a deal, the Cavaliers need to lay off a player, and the Lakers can get a $1.7 million deal exception.
As the biggest dark horse of the season, the Cavaliers are most talked about is their death five lineup. Rubio played the role of commander when the coach discharged the combination of Allen, Mobley, Farr and Markkanen, but now that he has fallen, garland is left in the backfield, Rondo's arrival can fill the gap well.
Of course, the Lakers are not changing the air, rather than taking Rondo as a decoration, it is better to stop the loss in time, change the point is the combat strength, 1.7 million US dollars is enough to turn Stanley Johnson. Moreover, previously many sources broke the news that the Lakers hope to get Pistons forward Grant, and the chips paid are Tucker + Nunn + 2027 first round picks. Predictably, after sending Rondo away, Pelinka will slowly open the curtain on the Lakers' deal.