The Cavaliers made an emergency trade after Rubio's injury to improve the depth of the guard by veteran guard Rondo, who played in a similar style to him, and at the same time helped the growth of young players such as Garland, and players like Rondo are a rare "learning path" for rookies.
As a four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Rondo has been successful in the NBA for the vast majority of his time, contributing greatly to every team. But the 35-year-old veteran averaged 3.5 points and 3.7 assists per game in the Worst Season of his Career with the Lakers before trading to the Cavaliers.
Still, Rondo's traits help the Knights who have risen this season in three ways.
1. Top arena organization
Many of the Cavaliers' problems this season have been on the offensive end, and Rondo's arrival can solve them, allowing young players to gain from running without the ball and making the Cavaliers' offense more stable.
His super high basketball IQ and organizational language can frequently bring empty opportunities to players, make the attack more fluent, and allow interior lines such as Mobley to develop good receiving and positioning habits, creating more space for Mobley. At the same time, Garland's current organizational capacity is still unstable, and Rondo can make up for this.
2. Excellent outside defense
Rondo has been known for his strong outside defense throughout his career, was named to the NBA's All-Defensive Team four times, and at his peak, was one of the best outside defenders of his time. When he's not carrying the ball, he can still contribute to the team by coaching his teammates in their running positions and defense.
The Cavaliers already have one of the best defenses in the NBA, ranking third behind the Suns and Warriors in terms of defensive efficiency, and the arrival of Rondo will further strengthen this, even in the worst season of his career, Rondo can contribute 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks in 16 minutes.
3. Locker room leader
Having worked with some great players throughout his career, Rondo has also given him the ability to be a competitive team leader, and Rondo can teach the young core how to win games, as well as move on the no-ball end, how to defend better without fouls, and how to be in the right place at the right time.