The Los Angeles Lakers will get an extra body in the bubble in the coming days as Rajon Rondo is set to return to Orlando “very soon” according to head coach Frank Vogel. The veteran point guard left the NBA bubble for surgery after suffering a fracture in his right hand.
Rondo is still not expected to play until at least the second round of the playoffs after an initial six to eight week diagnosis. However, his presence in practices and on the sidelines can be invaluable as one of the most respected basketball minds in the organization.
According to Vogel, Rondo is traveling to Florida on Wednesday but will spend some time outside of the bubble before making his return. Depending on the frequency of negative Coronavirus tests administered, he will have a four to ten day quarantine in his hotel room upon arrival. After that, he can re-join his teammates.
In the absence of Rondo and Avery Bradley, the Lakers have so far turned primarily to Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dion Waiters for the bulk of their point guard duties. Waiters, in particular, has been somewhat of a revelation as a ball-handler and offensive initiator, a role the Lakers clearly felt comfortable placing him in.
