Rajon Rondo has finally found a home, and it will reunite him with former teammate DeMarcus Cousins. After being waived by the Chicago Bulls earlier this offseason, the veteran guard will head to New Orleans on a one-year deal, according to Shams Chanaria of Yahoo Sports.
Free agent Rajon Rondo has reached agreement on a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2017
Rumors were circulating earlier this week that Rondo may have ended up with the Lakers on a one-year deal, but Los Angeles decided to use that money on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope instead. So instead, he’ll head to the Pelicans and form a backcourt with Jrue Holiday. It’s an interesting fit, but according to Chanaria, New Orleans has a plan for how it will have Rondo and Holiday co-exist on the floor.
In Rondo, the Pelicans envision a potential starting or reserve point guard alongside Jrue Holiday in the backcourt. Rondo is expected to provide the Pelicans with an additional player to run an offense centered around Anthony Davis and Cousins.
Rondo, of course, has played with Cousins before. The pair were teammates with the Kings during the 2015-16 season, and while Rondo’s relationship with the franchise didn’t seem especially great, Chanaria mentioned that the two have a strong relationship. In fact, Cousins wanted Rondo to stay in Sacramento so badly that he said he would “kidnap him myself” if it meant the mercurial point guard would re-sign with the Kings.
Cousins’ contract expires at the end of this year, and bringing in Rondo could be a sign that the franchise will do anything to make him happy. But at the very least, Rondo gives the Pelicans another piece as they try to make the postseason in an increasingly competitive Western Conference.
