Rajon Rondo has reportedly agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and will become a free agent, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Los Angeles Lakers, with whom Rondo won his second NBA championship in 2020, are considered the frontrunners to sign him when he clears waivers on Monday, Charania added.
Terms of the buyout were not immediately reported. Rondo had one year remaining on a two-year, $15 million contract.
Rondo, who spent half of last season with the Los Angeles Clippers after being traded to the team in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, has already changed rosters once this off-season.
The 35-year-old was acquired by the Grizzlies in the mid-August trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to Los Angeles.
No longer the player who earned four-straight All-Star nominations with the Boston Celtics from 2009 to 2013, Rondo averaged 5.4 points and 4.4 assists last season. His impact often extended beyond his on-court play, however, as he was regularly seen acting as an unofficial assistant coach during timeouts.
By returning to the Lakers, Rondo will fill one of the team’s final roster spots, the latest addition in a transformative off-season for the franchise that saw them acquire high-profile — albeit past their prime — players like Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
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