Two-time NBA Champion Rajon Rondo returns to the Lakers this offseason signing a $2.5 Million vet minimum deal. After winning the 2020 NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo decided not to return to the organization. Rondo signed with the Atlanta Hawks and then was traded to the LA Clippers on February 6. During the 2021 offseason, Rondo was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was bought out.
Rondo coming back to LA should have Lakers fans raving in excitement because he fills their hole at the back-up point guard(PG) position. Originally, Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker were battling it out for the position. Both are good at finding the open man on the floor, but facilitating an offense is where the concern is at.
Kendrick Nunn played for the Miami Heat the last two seasons where he was the starting PG for some time. During his tenure whit the Heat, he averaged 15 points, and 3 assists while shooting 45% from the field, and 36% from behind the three. At six feet and two inches, Nunn is destined to play PG in the NBA, but his game is more like a Shooting Guard(SG) than anything.
Talen Horton-Tucker came on to the scene during the 2020-2021 season and quickly became a Laker fan favorite. Horton-Tucker in one season has grown more than most players do in four seasons. This isn’t very surprising when you think about the guys he got to learn from in the past two years. He’s gotten a chance to be around three of the greatest passers to ever play the game and multiple veteran players who can teach him how to set himself apart from otherson the floor. During his break-out year, he averaged 9 points per game, 3 assists per game, shooting 45% from the field, and 28% from the three. Horton Tucker has had some promising moments having seven assists or more in six different games, but he’s primary a scorer who seems to always be in the right place at the right time.
Every team Lebron has been on has the same problem; not being able to score when Lebron is not on the floor. Even when Rondo was there it was something to be concerned about, but Rondo was able to manage games. Rondos’ ability to put pressure on the opposing team’s PG causes trouble for the entire offense. He makes it difficult for the team to run the floor, forces them into bad shot attempts all while maintaining the lead or not letting the opposing team significantly increase the lead.
In late-game situations, these tools Rondo possesses help make the difference in a win or a loss, and that was proven through his play in the 2019-2020 championship run with the Lakers.
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