Cavs’ Trade For Lakers Guard Rajon Rondo Likely To Come At Little Cost

A deal between the Cavaliers and Lakers that will send point guard Rajon Rondo to Cleveland is likely to be completed Friday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Cavs may need to include a minimum-salary player to make the trade work, with another option being to simply waive someone.

As an aside, Cavs guard/forward Denzel Valentine did not play in Thursday’s blowout road loss to the Wizards. A straight-up trade of Valentine for Rondo works under the salary cap.

But as Wojnarowki noted, the Lakers don’t need a matching salary to make a Rondo deal happen, as he’s on a veteran’s minimum contract. They would be more prone to want a on-guaranteed contract, if they take back a player at all. The Cavs could also simply absorb Rondo’s $2.6 million salary via a trade exception.

Rondo, 35, is in his first season back with the Lakers after spending last year with the Hawks and Clippers. He was a member of the Lakers previously, during their 2020 championship run in the Orlando bubble.

He has also spent time with the Bulls, Kings, Mavericks and Pelicans after starting his career with the Celtics in 2006. He won a title alongside Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in 2008.

I’m not a huge fan of it for Cavs, but I wasn’t huge fan of the Rubio trade either. And it went remarkably well. Either way, it’s good Cavs are showing an urgency to bring in a veteran replacement. https://t.co/8vEWGAQxuo

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) December 31, 2021

While not much of a scorer, Rondo has always been a willing facilitator and someone who has become known for making hustle plays. He is averaging 3.1 points and 3.7 assists for the Lakers in 18 games this season.

Rondo entered the health and safety protocol at the beginning of the week — so he would need to be cleared before he joining the Cavs.

But once that happens, it appears the Cavs have found their fill-in for veteran guard Ricky Rubio, out for the season after suffering an ACL tear to his left knee.

As for the Lakers, a trade of Rondo would highly likely open up a roster spot. Anyone they received from the Cavs would promptly be waived. Though, again, LA doesn’t need to take back a player to make the trade a reality.