Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract with the team, according to the LA Times’ Brad Turner. Rondo’s playoff heroics for the Lakers last season has seemingly upped the number of teams interested in his services and, according to Turner, the LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks are expected to pursue the veteran.
This isn’t shocking, of course, as the Lakers seemingly made a preemptive move to guard against losing Rondo this offseason by trading for Thunder point guard Dennis Schroder early on Sunday. It appears as though the Lakers will not be able to afford Rondo who is expected to get more than the veteran minimum after showcasing his value in the postseason.
Rondo averaged 7.1 points and five assists in the regular season in his second year with the Lakers. In his first postseason with the Lakers, he upped his totals to 8.9 points and 6.6 assists per game with much-improved defense. Rondo became the second player ever to win a championship with both the Lakers and the Celtics and the first since the franchise moved to Los Angeles.
Rondo’s play in the postseason was instrumental to the Lakers’ championship run but the Lakers may feel that a replacement in Schroder can provide the same impact in the regular season as well.
