VETERAN point guard Rajon Rondo is expected to decline his $2.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and become an unrestricted free agent, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks are expected to be among the teams vying to sign Rondo, the Times reported.
The 34-year-old guard averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 48 games last season. He served as a mentor for younger players and secured his second NBA championship ring to go along with the first one that he captured as a rookie with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
In his career, Rondo has averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 assists and 4.7 boards in 873 games (729 starts). He has played for six teams including the Lakers, Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers are close to finalizing a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that would bring guard Dennis Schroder to the reigning champions, according to reports from The Athletic and ESPN.
The Lakers are expected to package guard Danny Green and the 28th pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft in exchange for Schroder. The deal is expected to be completed when the NBA trade window opens at noon on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Schroder, 27, averaged 18.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds for the Thunder last season, his second in Oklahoma City after five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.
For his career, Schroder has averaged 14.1 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 496 games (177 starts).
Green, 33, started at shooting guard in all 68 games he appeared in with the Lakers last season, averaging 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. His career averages are 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 688 games (612 starts).
He is three-time NBA champion (San Antonio Spurs in 2014, Toronto Raptors in 2019 and the Lakers).
