DECEMBER 31, 11:17am: There are no other assets such as draft picks or cash included in the trade, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says it’s a straight swap: Rondo for Valentine.
Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link) provides some financial details on the deal, noting that each team will generate a small traded player exception.
DECEMBER 31, 10:08am: The Lakers will trade Rondo to the Cavaliers, according to Charania (via Twitter).
Sources tell Wojnarowski that Cleveland will send Denzel Valentine to Los Angeles in the deal. The Lakers are expected to waive Valentine, who has a partially guaranteed contract, Woj adds. That would open up a spot on L.A.’s 15-man roster and could save the team some money, depending on how long that roster spot remains open.
So far, there’s no indication that any other assets are involved in the swap, but it’s not yet official, so more details could trickle in.
DECEMBER 30, 5:30pm: The Cavaliers are in serious discussions with the Lakers to acquire point guard Rajon Rondo, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that the deal is expected to be completed as soon as Friday.
Cleveland lost Ricky Rubio to a season-ending torn left ACL on Wednesday and is seeking point depth in the veteran Rondo, who’s currently sidelined due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
In 18 games this season (16.1 MPG), the 35-year-old Rondo is averaging 3.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 3.7 APG. The four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion has seen his minutes and games played reduced in recent years, but he’s known for turning things up a notch in the playoffs. Given the Cavs’ lack of guard depth, acquiring Rondo could be a decent move, as Darius Garland has shown he can play well with other strong passers like Rubio.
Kevin Pangos, the only other point guard on Cleveland’s roster, will get his first career start Thursday against the Wizards, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Garland is currently sidelined in the protocols, leading to a big opportunity for Pangos. He was one of the better players in Europe over the past handful of years, so it will be interesting to monitor how he performs in his first prime-time action.
It’s not yet known what other pieces may be included in a Rondo deal, but a player technically isn’t required in return, since the point guard is on a one-year veteran’s minimum contract, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN.
Lamar Stevens, Dean Wade and Ed Davis are all on non-guaranteed deals for the Cavaliers, while Denzel Valentine‘s contract is partially guaranteed at $500K (he’s already earned more than that by sticking with the team this long). Of the four players, I believe Valentine or Davis are the most likely to be traded/waived, as Wade and Stevens are both younger players the Cavs have developed over time.
Was not expecting that…at all. I wonder who we will give up or cut since we have full roster
Go Cavs? I hope it would just be a second rounder. We might give up Windler thou.
Ya Windler has always been constantly hurt or just has not played well his whole entire young career. The Lakers could use a young guy like Windler, but I could see them waiving him for a guy like Jemerrio Jones or Lance Stephenson….Any other good FA’s that I didn’t think of?
It will be Davis or Valentine.
Prob. David bc none guaranteed.
Lamar Stevens & Dean Wade fit Cavs timeline.
Expect Cle to send a heavy protected 2nd rd pick to get Rondo & waive a player.
Lakers need a Roster spot for S. Johnson and or D Collison…
Win win for both teams. Cle hopes to get a vet who can run the offense. Hope playing more often & w skilled bigs it will unlock Playoff Rondo from a few yrs ago.
I love the move. Cle needs to be patient w the injuries. Running in & giving 76ers the farm for Simmons is a mistake.
Rondo is basically an older Ben Simmons who can shoot the 3 alot better than Ben. Rondo has improved 3pt shooting.
Cle has Several DPE.
Will get 1x for Rubio too
Rondo is like Simmons, BUT he can’t play defense as good as Simmons.
Rondo is a short Ben Simmons
Rondo is nothing like Simmons. What is this trend? Rondo sees accurately & reacts; Simmons changes the game.
Good time to trade Si!mons but Morey is not sniffing now.
Simmons is a DPOY candidate. Rondo is, well, not…
Dylan Windler and a second for Rondo and a 2nd or two should get it done for Cleveland if they want him that bad.
Hope it’s not Windler. Cavs have given up two good shooters in the past who weren’t given a chance with Danny Green and Joe Harris. But it probably will be him, just guess we’ll find out here soon.
Interesting observation, Denzel Valentine has not played tonight even though he is higher on the depth chart than others currently playing. I wonder if they are holding him out?
Yea, that is pretty odd, has Justin Anderson or any of them played tonight?
No not yet, but 10-day contracts are eligible to be traded so can’t be them. And Dylan Windler is playing but I doubt they are playing him to give him one last audition to prove himself or anything. My guess is Valentine or Ed Davis.
*Aren’t
A 2nd rounder is about the most they could hope for. Rondo is not worth anything more than a second rounder.
Probably just a 2nd round pick. Cavs have a trade exception to absorb rondos contract. Lakers aren’t getting much back.
Cavs arent giving up D. Windler for Rondo & a 2nd.
Cle dont have to send any1 over bc DPE..
They need to waive a player.
Non guaranteed stevens wade davis & valentine is guaranteed 500k.
Bc cle got bigs look for elder Davis to be waived. They put too much effort n younger stevens and wade.
So right now they discussing the protections in the 2nd rd pick. Which will be high. Lakers going to cut Rondo anyways bc tbey need spot for s johnson and or d collison.
It wont be a 25 yr Windler who fits young core as role guy. Hes been injured alot but is 3pt shooter and good defensively. Needs reps & confidence.
It will be Davis or Valentine.
Prob. David bc none guaranteed.
Lamar Stevens & Dean Wade fit Cavs timeline.
Expect Cle to send a heavy protected 2nd rd pick to get Rondo & waive a player.
Lakers need a Roster spot for S. Johnson and or D Collison…
Win win for both teams. Cle hopes to get a vet who can run the offense. Hope playing more often & w skilled bigs it will unlock Playoff Rondo from a few yrs ago.
I love the move. Cle needs to be patient w the injuries. Running in & giving 76ers the farm for Simmons is a mistake.
Rondo is basically an older Ben Simmons who can shoot the 3 alot better than Ben. Rondo has improved 3pt shooting.
Cle has Several DPE.
Will get 1x for Rubio too
According to Las Vegas earlier this month, Lakers are top 2 authentic or Genuine Title Contender.
According to me, Lakers will be ate out by Wolves and play lottery this season
Save the money, Lakers!
I didn’t know the Lakers was a woman.
Warriors are 20 wins over .500
Lakers are 2 games under .500
Lakers have much better talents than Warriors
Lakers are going to be good come playoffs time
Lakers have more talent if this was 2010 not 2021.
I don’t see the upside for the Lakers here.
Lakers needs a 3&D player, coz they’re losing games because melo, westbrook, & THT couldnt rebound and make good defensive plays..
Saves the Lakers a lot of money
1yr $2.6m contract, so NO.
Great bandaid! Will average 7 dimes a night for them but too fragile to rely on for the season. I still think they are going to make a play on at least 1 more combo guard like levert. Maybe Gordon and Dragic to help get them to the playoffs. Once love is off the books this team will be elite
LeVert is struggling and his and Gordon’s play style don’t fit with this group. And KLove’s contract is still horrible, but he has been great this season so not like he is holding the team back rn.
I would love to see Westprick humiliated and moved from the lakers.
This trade would work:
– Lakers get Kevin Love and Eric Gordon
– Cleveland gets Wall, Jeremi Grant and Rondo (Wall denies player option 47 million but signs 70 million dollar 5 year extension)
– Rockets get Rubio, Olynyk, Josh Jackson, Cory Joseph, D Valentine and McGruder (and waive or trade 4 players)
– Pistons take on Westbrick, Sexton and Windler. Plus lots of cash and picks. Westbrick denies player option and also gets a long term extension. Gets traded beginning of next season.
Make sense for Lakers and Rockets
Wall becomes Cavs leader
Westbrook becomes Pistons leader
westbrick would take Cade and Killian and Cory and sabens minutes away
I dont see a future for Westbrick in Detroit to be clear.
He gets benched and eventually accepts to renounce his player option and sign a 4 or 5 year contract extension of higher total value, but lower yearly value so he has a contract to go to a “contender”.
Lets say 47 + 4 × 7 = 75 = 15 million a year.
Question is who wants to take on such a selfish player, even for 15 million. Knicks? Brooklyn if 1 of the big 3 doesnt extend? Boston? Clippers? No idea.
Elite?
Let’s calm down.
They’re a pleasant surprise this season but still some players away from being elite; and those players aren’t any of whom you named.
They need a prime time bucket getter and that’s not levert, Gordon, or dragic. Those are all secondary playmakers no not a #1.
They are going to sign Stanley Johnson and it’s going to save them about $20 million!!
Jemerrio Jones or Collison make more since if this were to happen.
Nope, Stanley will be the play
Why?
Still need to get rid of Jordan and bazemore. Would’ve liked to keep rondo cause his real value is in the playoffs. Hopefully they can figure out a way to keep collison with johnson
DJ needs to just get waived; No one wants him, and he is a complete waste of a roster spot, as he doesn’t play at all.
DJ who? Why Jeremio Johns? Stephenson may make sense with some PG skills allegedly.
Windler, Dean, Wade, Davis are still getting invested in, so not likely to be traded.
Rondo is okay but size at PG is needed.
Rondo can probably get requests done on the trade. If he wants out he will get it, due tohis moodiness
DeAndre Jordan.
If Rondo wants this, Lakers won’t have leverage… Rondo has no problem with not making much effort since knows his value is for late in the season.
He probably likes the tall trees to pass to in CLE.
Probably tired of passing to 6’8 and 6’9 players pretending to be centers
It looked like Clev was finally coming around to be professionally runned franchise but … trading for Rondo??!!
Has anyone in Clev MGT watched any Laker games this season. Rondo in the immoral words of Tiger Williams … he’s done like dinner.
He’d make a good veteran presence and mentor for Garland since Rubio tore his ACL someone has to fill that role.
Mentor as in making sure that Garland gets his dinner.
Rondo can run the offense & is a tier better than pangos. Remember playoff Rondo in the bubble. I think no fans made Rondo play free like a pickup gm. He was hitting 3s & idk if its 3d spatial w fans & big arenas w lights but in bubble rondo was balling. That was a yr ago. He can run offense & i like move for a highly protected 2nd rd pick. Why not. Cle needs depth. Look cle to waive Ed Davis who is not guaranteed. Or valentine who has 500k guaranteed. Stevens & wade are young developing guys & windler is too. They wont move Windler for Rondo.
Lebron said I’m sick of you rondo imma trade you to Cleveland mid winter enjoy
Lol the Cavs have a better record than the Lakers at 20-15 and have easiest schedule rest of the way out if all teams.
LA is below .500 and struggling.
Rondo change of scenery & JB giving Rondo keys to the offense will say go be playoff rondo. We will live with it.
With actual moving parts & bigs to catch oops & Okoro slashing & Rondo being on ball w Garland running off screens.
Rondo is a PnR maestro. But playing with Lebron he wants to iso ball draw a 2x team and kick the ball out to shooters.
Rondo w J. Allen lob threat & Mobley pick n pop & Maurkenan floor spacing w Garland running off picks. Rondo is ELITE pnr player.
He will be reborn in Cle & get big mins and it will be a rebirth.
Why? Rondo is done. He can’t play anymore
Rondo in LA stood in corner while Lebron drew 2x team & would kick ball.
La dont have pieces Cavs have.
The bigs in Cle will make Rondo look elite in the PnR. And JB will get the best out of Rondo.
He still can play elite pnr & be good defensively.
I agree, his bball IQ is at par with lebron, cavs would surely be a better team with him in it!
One roster spot open, one more to go.
LAL has to sign both Stanley Johnson and Darren Collison.
Although they also need a big man with more youth and mobility than Dwight and DeAndre.
FIRST TRADE OF THE Season, Baby! I love it!
Not much of a trade 1 team getting rid of a player so they can sign somebody off the free agent list for minimum wage. Another team getting a old player just to get them through the season and fill a hole on the team because of injury.
better than another covid update any day.
Now start trading Anthony “ took fragile “ Davis , Russell Westbrook start rebuilding
Cavs having a good season. Rondo will just help continue that. Plus he can also mentor Garland. Cavs don’t give much. Nice move
Who would’ve thought the Cavs would have a better record than the Lakers at this point in the season?
I did see the Westbrook train wreck coming though. That move made absolutely no sense to me at the time. But I still never thought they’d be this bad.
Probably tired of passing to 6’8 and 6’9 players pretending to be centers