The LA Clippers finally made a move prior to the trade deadline. After a lot of speculation that the team needed another playmaker on the roster, the front office seemingly addressed it in the form of Rajon Rondo.
The LA Clippers traded Lou Williams and two second-round draft picks to the Atlanta Hawks for Rajon Rondo.
This deal sort of came out of nowhere as the LA Clippers had not previously been linked to Rajon Rondo on the trade market. There were rumors that the team had tried to sign him during free agency but he ended up in Atlanta.
With a need for more playmaking, it seems that the Clips turned their sights back on Rondo and began to work on a deal. Ultimately, the Clippers had to send out two second-round picks and Lou Williams to bring back the point guard.
Hawks are trading Rajon Rondo to the Clippers for Lou Williams, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Rondo, fresh off a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, has only seen 14.9 minutes per game for the Hawks this season. He is putting up just 3.9 points per game on 40% shooting but is shooting a career-high 37.8% from deep. His assists are down to just 3.5 per game but his per 100 minutes average of 11.6 is in line with last season.
The loss of Lou Williams will impact the Clippers who will now likely view Luke Kennard as the main scoring guard off the bench. Williams was in his fourth season with the Clippers, having won Sixth Man of the Year in two of those seasons.
While we aren’t sure what this means for the bigger rotation now, it does seem like the Clippers are all in on trying to improve for the postseason. The team obviously hopes that Rondo’s playmaking and leadership will be a big factor come playoffs.