The Lakers are favorites to sign Rajon Rondo after buyout with Grizzlies

The Los Angeles Lakers are front-runners to sign four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo. Referencing betting odds from Bovada, the Lakers have -130 odds of signing the player, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies (+120) and Golden State Warriors (+500). On November 23, 2020, he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Then, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on March 25, 2021. On August 16, 2021, the point guard was traded by the organization to the Grizzlies, along with Patrick Beverley and Daniel Oturu.

In exchange, the Clippers received Eric Bledsoe. However, on Saturday, the 35-year-old guard reached a buyout with the Grizzlies. This move was expected; he will be waived by the team on Monday. Heading into training camp, Rondo is expected to help fill the 15th roster spot on the Lakers. He will now have the opportunity to play with Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Nunn. According to Basketball-Reference, Rondo has a 60.6 percent chance of making the Hall of Fame.

The @memgrizz today announced the team waived Rajon Rondo. pic.twitter.com/AUJSopaKvb

— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) August 28, 2021

Player statistics, awards and salary

In the 2020-21 NBA season, the guard averaged 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Rondo also had a field goal shooting percentage of 44.2 percent and a three-point shooting percentage of 40.4 percent. The star has a defensive rating of 104, which ranks 19th among active players in the league. While playing for the Hawks, in his debut with the team on December 28, 2020, he closed out his performance with 12 points and eight assists in 128-120 victory versus the Detroit Pistons.

On the Clippers last season, in the team’s 113-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on April 8, 2021, he finished his performance with a season-high 15 points and nine assists off the bench. Plus, regarding salary, he earned $7.5 million last season and was set to earn $8.2 million with the Hawks in the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season, based on the deal he signed.

Furthermore, Rondo was selected 21st overall by the Suns in the 2006 NBA Draft. On draft night, he was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. In the 2007-08 season, he won his first ring with the Celtics against the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Fast forward to the 2019-20 season, he won his second ring with none other than—you guessed it—LeBron James and the Lakers.

Rondo became only the second player in NBA history, next to Clyde Lovellette, to win a ring with both the Lakers and Celtics. The guard’s 105 assists in the 2020 postseason are the most by a bench player in the playoffs since 1971. Rondo also topped Manu Ginobili’s 95 assists in 2014. The San Antonio Spurs defeated LeBron and the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the 2014 NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship.

Rajon Rondo’s next team odds