Getty
Frank Vogel will have a new option after the departure of Rajon Rondo
The team of Los angeles lakers decided to switch to one of his summer signings.
As reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski On Friday, December 31, the Lakers will send Rajon Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Denzel Valentine. The move was not made with the intention of retaining Valentine on the list; The Lakers are expected to resign the 28-year-old guard to clear a spot on their roster.
“ESPN Sources: The Cavaliers have agreed to trade Denzel Valentine to the Lakers to acquire Rajon Rondo,” says Wojnarowski. “The Lakers are expected to renounce Valentine’s partially guaranteed deal and create a vacant spot on their roster.”
By trading Rondo and giving up Valentine, instead of Rondo, the Lakers are saving millions of dollars in the process. Giving up Rondo would have resulted in $ 7 million in dead money in the luxury tax. Giving up Valentine’s partially guaranteed contract (just $ 500,000 guaranteed of just over $ 1.9 million) results in roughly $ 3.7 million in dead money, according to Yossi Gozlan by HoopHype.
Why the Rondo trade benefits the Lakers
While it’s unofficial, the Lakers could be making the move to sign Stanley Johnson to a full-time roster spot. Johnson had recently appeared in three games for Los Angeles while on a 10-day contract, averaging 7.7 points in 27.3 minutes per game.
At just 25 years old, Johnson would immediately become the Lakers’ third-youngest player among the active rotation players on the roster.
The operation is a step in the right direction for a Lakers team that is clearly struggling due to poor roster construction. As valuable as Rondo was to the 2020 championship team, it became obvious that he was to the detriment of the current team. The soon-to-be 36-year-old spot averaged just 3.1 points and 3.7 assists in 16.1 minutes per game with 32.4% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc.
In fact, the Rondo’s offensive rating of 83 compared to his defensive rating of 109 he’s the worst of the players in the Lakers’ rotation and one of the worst numbers in the league.
Also being able to eliminate one of the 10 players over 30 on the roster allows the Lakers to add much-needed young bodies. Assuming they add Johnson, or someone of similar caliber, the Lakers should be on track to at least improve their 27th position in defensive index.
LeBron on Lakers’ worst flaw: Turnovers
After another disappointing loss, a 104-99 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, December 29, LeBron James revealed the Lakers’ biggest flaw: Turnovers.
“There is a difference between careless turnovers and offensive turnovers”, said james. “We have to reduce our careless turnovers, which are just not forced. We will have turnovers in attack, which is fine. We have a lot of attackers and we understand that. But, careless turnovers, where you literally just flip the ball over and there’s no pressure or no reason for it, those are the ones that get us in trouble. “
Ironically, it was a loss of James with a chance to tie the game with 5.1 seconds to go That led directly to Los Angeles’ latest loss. The loss – and the loss – overshadowed another spectacular performance by the 37-year-old superstar, as he posted 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
READ THE ORIGINAL NEWS ON HEAVY.COM
READ MORE: REPORT: All-Star Player in Danger of Release by Lakers: Who Can Go?
.
We would love to thank the writer of this post for this incredible content
Lakers trade veteran point guard to Cavaliers for former college star: Who made it?