2 realistic expectations for Cavs’ Rajon Rondo trade acquisition

#1: Rondo does what he does as a passer, but the scoring is scarce

Rondo, similarly to Rubio, is a terrific passer, and in some stretches sans Garland, I’d imagine the veteran reserve will do a fine job in that regard.

That area of Rondo’s game has, and always will be there, even as he’s gotten up there in age; as we mentioned, while he didn’t have a particularly notable role this season so far with the Lakers, will less time as a bonafide primary initiator, he still had 3.7 assists per game in 16.1 minutes.

He’s obviously not near the level of what he was earlier on in his career as a three-time assist champ, as Rondo is in Year 16 and coming up on 36 years of age. Even still, in the past four seasons, despite bouncing around, he’s still had 9.2 assists per-36 minutes.

I’d expect him to be a more than capable table setter in reserve minutes, and for some stretches, perhaps he could be functioning as the lead initiator with Darius Garland more off-ball, of which we saw a bunch of with Rubio in tow.

However, with Rondo, he’s hardly the driving threat he once was, nor nearly the pick-and-roll scorer.

Part of it was playing with LeBron James in seasons with the Lakers, and with Russell Westbrook too this season, but either way, with Rondo not being a shooter, Cavs fans shouldn’t be expecting nearly the level of scoring production, or even shooting willingness Rubio had this season. That’s regardless of Rubio appearing to have more of a green light as a shooter with Cleveland this season, even prior to Collin Sexton being injured.

From a reserve perspective, though, Rondo should be a significant upgrade over Pangos, again, if the buy-in is still there.

His presence could’ve really made a difference in Cleveland’s New Year’s Eve loss, one where the shorthanded Hawks, who had 12 players in health and safety protocols, flipped the script with a 40-22 third quarter. Pangos’ ineffective second half killed Cleveland’s efforts, including in them trying to pull it out in the fourth, and Rondo could’ve helped settle things down in the third.

Rondo shouldn’t be playing nearly the minutes Rubio was, in fairness, and better not be when Garland is back; that won’t happen, anyhow.