The Atlanta Hawks are trading PG Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Clippers for G Lou Williams, The Athletic’s Shams Charanira reported Thursday afternoon prior to the NBA Trade Deadline at 3 PM ET. Lou Will gets to to back to ATL and be closer to his lemon pepper wings at Magic City. Rondo gets to go back to Los Angeles, this time trying to help the Clippers win a title rather than the Lakers.
Clippers are finalizing a deal to acquire Rajon Rondo from Atlanta for Lou Williams, two second-round picks and cash, sources tell me and @sam_amick.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
So the Clippers give up Lou Will, two picks and cash to get Rondo, which seems like quite the haul. Williams had really fallen off with the Clips as their 6th man, his scoring taking a bit hit this season compared to the past few years. Rondo brings a veteran presence to a Clippers team looking to win a title. We all know the legend of “Playoff Rondo” and now we get to see that in action again in L.A.
The Clippers lose a scorer and sixth man in Williams, but gain a floor general in Rondo. This past offseason, Rondo signed a deal with the Atlanta Hawks to be that veteran presence in the backcourt. In 27 games played, the veteran point guard is only averaging 3.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game. With the Clippers, they won’t look for him to score but to be the lead point guard off the bench and help them on the defensive end.
As for the Hawks, they get back their native son in Lou Williams. As previously alluded, Williams has struggled offensively, but he joins an Atlanta Hawks team that has shooting and scoring littered around him. This season, the former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game. He’s only shooting 42.1% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range.