The LA Clippers acquired veteran point guard Rajon Rondo from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for former sixth man of the year Lou Williams, it was announced Thursday.
The Clippers will also send two future concept picks in the second round and cash considerations in the deal.
Rondo, 35, gives the Clippers basketball championship, leadership, and IQ experience as a point guard. He returns to Los Angeles, where he won his second NBA title with the Lakers last season before joining the rebuilding Hawks for a two-year deal worth $ 15 million.
Rondo also reconnects with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who was an assistant to the Boston Celtics from 2011 to 2013, when Rondo was with the Celtics.
Thursday night Lue Rondo spoke “sort of my project” while in Boston.
“It’s intense, that’s what we need,” added Lue. ‘It is difficult. He understands the game. And he respects people and tells the truth. That was the most important thing in Boston, being honest with him and telling him the truth and keeping it real with him. ‘
Lue said he’s not sure if Rondo will start or get off the bench.
“We must all have them, they are all healthy,” said Lue after the Clippers beat Spurs 98-85 on Thursday night. ‘I’m just trying to see what works. It will take a while. I’m not sure at the moment. ‘
Williams has won three of the last six Sixth Man of the Year awards and just surpassed his 15,000 career points on Wednesday night in the Clippers’ San Antonio victory.
During Thursday’s game, Lue said he looked at his bench during a slow start and told his assistants that this is when he would want Williams.
“We will miss him for everything he brought and not just basketball,” said Lue. “I just think he was a great person. That’s what I love most. We all knew he was a great basketball player, but only as a person and what he stood for and how he always raised team morale with everyone around him. away.” That is what we will miss the most. ”
Clippers forward Paul George called the Williams trade “a difficult situation.”
“You hate seeing these things happen,” George said. “We’re going to miss Lou. The best way to do this, fire him properly, is to go out and win him. [todo]