Rajon Rondo Sacrificed In Favor Of Roster Flexibility
Rajon Rondo has been sent to Cleveland in a complex deal that frees up a roster spot on the Lakers.
The three team deal that also involved the Knicks allows for more flexibility. Ultimately, the Lakers valued this over having Rajon Rondo on the team.
Rajon Rondo is remembered fondly for his role in the Lakers’ championship win in the ‘bubble’ in Orlando. Then, he averaged 8.9 points on 40% shooting from 3, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
His production is down this year in an admittedly more limited role on the court. This year, the 35 year old averaged 3.1 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game. The Lakers are 5-13 in the games he played in and the last time he appeared for them was Dec. 23.
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“Obviously the ability to have flexibility with the roster spot for what we have coming forward, which is still unknown, I think Rob [Pelinka] just saw value in that,” Vogel said of the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager.
“It would be more of a non-playing role, a third-string point guard role, but to use his I.Q. and intelligence,” Vogel said. “And that will certainly be missed.”
“Rondo means the world to me,” Vogel said. “He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached. He was an integral part of us winning the championship two years ago, me winning my first championship and he’ll always be a special player and special friend to me. So I wish nothing but the best to him for now and we’ll continue to stay in touch and whatnot.”
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“It wasn’t like we wanted to depart from Rondo,” Vogel said. “But it’s just one of those front-office decisions that you have to make difficult decisions and to lose a guy like Rondo is obviously very difficult.
“In terms of what is next, we still don’t know,” Vogel said. “Rob and Kurt [Rambis] are going to make those decisions as they see fit and that will all play out in the next few days. We still hope to have [Johnson] back for some more games. All those answers will reveal themselves over the next few days.”
