The Sacramento Kings have signed Rajon Rondo to a one-year, $9.5 contract, according to USATODAY’s Sam Amick. The agreement is the Kings’ second free agent splash in less than a day after adding Marco Belinelli a few hours earlier.
Rondo and Sacramento have been rumored to have a mutual interest for weeks. Small forward Rudy Gay has been publicly recruiting the veteran point guard, and the Kings could offer Rondo the short-term, high annual salary he wanted.
The 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics has seen his market value tank in recent seasons. The four-time All-Star tore his right ACL in early 2013, and he hasn’t matched his previous level of play since. Rondo averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.1 turnovers in 68 games last season between the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. Following the December 18 trade to Dallas, the 29-year-old clashed with head coach Rick Carlisle and was deactivated for the Mavericks’ final three playoff games with a back injury.
As a King, Rondo will have plenty of help to rebuild his image as an elite two-way weapon. Along with his good friend Gay, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound ball handler should feed assists to fellow Kentucky Wildcats DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein.
Rondo’s presence will likely push last offseason’s free agent signee Darren Collison to the bench. Collison was enjoying a breakout campaign before suffering a core injury in early February, but the veteran has played off the ball in the past.
What’s more questionable is how the outspoken personalities of Rondo, Cousins and head coach George Karl will mesh in the locker room. While that’s left to be seen, team owner Vivek Ranadive and de facto general manager Vlade Divac clearly have faith they’ll get along.
The Kings cannot officially announce their free agent signings until July 9, when the 2015-16 NBA salary cap is determined. For his career, Rondo has recorded 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 2.8 turnovers and 32.6 minutes in 573 appearances (520 starts). He was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns and promptly traded to the Celtics in 2006.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
