Rajon Rondo has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, the latest in a growing list of veterans that have joined to team up with LeBron James.

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to sign point guard Rajon Rondo to a one-year, $9 million contract, per Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports. The 6’1″ point guard will be on his sixth team in the last five seasons.

Rondo spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Lakers’ rival, the Boston Celtics, where he was a four-time All-Star. He even won a championship in 2008, beating the Lakers in a six-game series.

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Rondo in December of 2015. He butted heads with head coach Rick Carlisle, and was later benched in the playoffs. He followed this up with one-year stints with the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls before landing on the New Orleans Pelicans this past season. Here’s a look at how the move benefits the Lakers.

Experience

In 2017-18, Rondo averaged 8.3 points, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. Although he shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range and an abysmal 54.3 percent from the free-throw line, he’s the perfect floor general.

Similar to the season before in Chicago, Rondo thrived in the playoffs. He helped the Bulls take a 2-0 lead against the Boston Celtics before suffering a thumb injury.

Rondo averaged 10.2 points, 12.2 assists, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in the playoffs for New Orleans. He helped the Pelicans sweep the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round despite not having center DeMarcus Cousins.

The Lakers are young. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart are all under 23 years old. Getting a veteran with playoff experience is a big win for the Lakers.

His fit

Rondo will most likely back up point guard Lonzo Ball and run the second unit. Both have similar games as active passers and rebounders, with Ball being a better 3-point option. If he starts, his effect on Brandon Ingram could be similar to the one he had on Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday.

Holiday averaged career-highs of 19.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field. These areas of his game all took a boost once he started playing off the ball and Rondo lessened his offensive burden.

With Rondo and Ball being dominant, main ball-handlers, LeBron James could fulfill his wish of wanting to “play off the ball.”

As a former young star on a championship team, Rondo can share his experience with the younger Lakers. He can also show them how to adjust as their roles change with incoming stars and veterans.

Magic Johnson and company know they’re getting a non-shooting point guard with championship pedigree. He’s dedicated to winning, and helps LeBron extend his career by taking pressure off of him.

Grade: A-