On Jan. 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks finalized a deal that would send Denzel Valentine to the Knicks and Rajon Rondo to the Cavaliers.
The Cavs desperately needed guard depth they were looking for, with both Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio missing the rest of the season due to injury. Rondo offers some relief in that department, as he plays the point guard position.
Rondo has had a long career filled with ups and downs, having played for the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers, and now, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rajon Rondo was a key part of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics team, starting at point guard, and went on to help defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals during that season.
A four-time All-Star and two-time champion, Rondo has had enjoyed success throughout much of his NBA career, contributing heavily to every team he has been a part of.
The 35-year-old point guard is in the midst of the worst season of his career, only averaging 3.5 points per game and 3.7 assists per game. These numbers pale in comparison to his career averages of 9.8 points and 8 assists per game.
Still, Rondo can add years of valuable experience to any team seeking his services, often seeing an improvement while he plays there. Along those lines, Cleveland is a young team with plenty of gaps yet to be filled, and Rondo is definitely a step in the right direction, having been a part of numerous teams that contended for a title throughout his career.
Let’s take a look at the biggest ways Rajon Rondo can help lead the Cavaliers to success, with three key areas, in particular, that come to mind.