Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers have many questions in their roster, but Rajon Rondo is not the answer for them. The four-time All-Star’s best basketball might be behind him. It showed in his time with the Dallas Mavericks, when he struggled. Rondo averaged 9.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 46 games. These numbers were a significant dip from the 8.3 points, 10.8 assists, and 7.5 rebounds, he averaged with the Boston Celtics in 22 games.
Rondo no longer looks like the player who finished with 44 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012. A few years ago Rondo seemed like a walking triple-double and was considered one of the best guards in the league. That is no longer the case. Rondo might not even be a top-10 point guard. Rondo is certainly behind players like Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, John Wall, and Damian Lillard.
It is obvious that Kobe Bryant wants Rondo in Los Angeles. Rondo is a poor jump-shooter and will struggle to defend the premier point guards, who are much bigger than him. The one thing that Rondo will bring to the Lakers is that he is unselfish and can see the floor as well as any player in the league.
If the Lakers go with what is expected with their second pick, drafting either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor, it shouldn’t make them go for a point guard in free-agency. Rookie Jordan Clarkson was terrific in the second half of the season. Clarkson averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the final 28 games.
Clarkson looked much better than Rondo and he is only getting better. I’m not saying Clarkson is better than Rondo, but it appears that he will be as productive. Clarkson is a better scorer than Rondo and a much better shooter. In a league filled with terrific point guards, Clarkson has greater size (6-foot-5) and athleticism than Rondo, which means he has a better shot of defending them.
This doesn’t mean that the Lakers shouldn’t add another guard. Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson, and Brandon Knight are better point guard options for the Lakers.
