Nothing hurt me more than seeing Rajon Rondo sign a one-year, $9 million contract with LA this offseason. An eight-year Celtic, Rondo was a huge part of the 2008 “Anything is Possible” Celtics and will forever hold a place in fans’ hearts. The 6’1″ point guard has always had great potential, but both injury and bad luck have kept him from reaching superstardom.
It’s safe to say that Rondo is on the back half of his career, but by no means is he “washed up.” The 33-year-old is coming off a one-year stint with the Pelicans, where he teamed up with bigs Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Rondo was the perfect addition to that team – a facilitator who can drive and dish while playing solid defense. Things were looking up in New Orleans until a Boogie injury derailed their season.
After leaving Louisiana, Rondo took his talents out West, where he’ll join LeBron James and Lonzo Ball, as they try and topple the Warriors’ dynasty. How good are the Lakers? Nobody really knows. They could win 55 games, miss the playoffs, or win the NBA Finals. Anyone of those scenarios is possible, but the Lakers are going to need all the help they can get.
Here’s what Rondo can bring to LA.
Playmaking
Rajon Rondo is one of the last “true” point guards in the NBA – he averaged a relatively low PPG of 10.1 but had a solid 8.2 APG last season. His passing abilities more than compensate for his scoring shortcomings. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Rondo’s role will revolve around finding scorers like Brandon Ingram for easy 3’s in the Lakers pace-and-space offense. Either as a sixth man or starting, Rondo will play a big role in the LA system.
Veteran Leadership
Here at PerSources, we appreciate the role that veteran leadership plays in an ever-changing game (see here). As more and more young guys flood the league, teams need a strong veteran presence to keep the team anchored. Boston has Al Horford, Houston has Chris Paul, and the Warriors have Andre Iguodala. If the Lakers want to contend for a championship this season, they’ll need a similar leading figure.
Sure, the Lakers have LeBron James, but is he really the locker room presence that can hold a team together? Think no further than to Game 1 of last year’s NBA Finals when JR Smith and George Hill threw away the Cavs’ victory and sent the game to overtime. During the time between regulation and OT, instead of picking his teammates up and focusing on the 15 minutes in front of him, LeBron sat with his head in his hands, silently brooding.
Rondo has grown since his days in Boston and can offer the Lakers some playoff experience and composure.
Mentoring Lonzo
Many great players credit an older veteran with developing their game. David Robertson took rookie Tim Duncan under his wing, Kevin Garnett learned from the legendary Sam Mitchell, and Lonzo Ball needs to learn from Rondo.
The Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball in last year’s draft with the hopes of bringing a dynamic passer and facilitator into the organization. The oldest of three brothers was under constant scrutiny during his first NBA season, and while he certainly had bright moments, Lonzo Ball has a lot to learn if he wants to lead the Lakers to success.
Rajon Rondo is an ideal mentor for the Ball brother. Both players are pass-first guards that can be an offensive sparkplug. Rondo’s playmaking and passing abilities are arguably the best in the league, and some of his talents will be sure to rub off on Lonzo.
The road to the playoffs won’t be easy for Los Angeles, as the Western Conference is full of hard-nosed competitive teams like the Trailblazers and Nuggets that won’t go down without a fight. Nobody really knows how this Lakers team will do, but Rajon Rondo will be a huge part of it.
Thoughts? Questions? Feedback?
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