Lakers Rumors: LA Frontrunners for Rajon Rondo After Grizzlies Contract Buyout

Jacob Kupferman/Associated Press

The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to buy out the remainder of four-time All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo’s contract, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

According to Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are the frontrunners to sign Rondo, who helped the team win the 2020 NBA Finals.

Memphis acquired Rondo, Patrick Beverley and Daniel Oturu from the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Bledsoe on Aug. 16. 

As noted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, the Grizzlies’ focus seemed to be on getting more cap space for the summer of 2022, when Ja Morant is eligible for a contract extension:

“For the Grizzlies, the logic here seems to come down to turning Bledsoe’s $3.9 million guarantee for 2022-23 into expiring salary. Adding $6 million this year shouldn’t affect Memphis, because the Grizzlies didn’t have meaningful cap space after the trade with New Orleans, and they are still comfortably below the luxury tax line.”

The Grizzlies wasted no time in making another move after that deal. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Beverley was being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez. 

It never seemed like Rondo’s time in Memphis was going to last very long. Ja Morant is entrenched as the Grizzlies’ starting point guard. De’Anthony Melton emerged as a solid backup last season with a 41.2 three-point percentage in 51 games. 

Rondo is at the stage of his career where he has been trying to be a final piece that gets a playoff contender over the hump. He played an integral role off the bench for the Lakers during their title run in 2019-20. 

After starting last season with the Atlanta Hawks, the 35-year-old was traded to the Clippers at the trade deadline in March. He averaged 5.8 assists and shot 43.2 percent from behind the arc in 18 appearances for Los Angeles down the stretch.