A reunion between center DeMarcus Cousins and veteran point guard Rajon Rondo with the New Orleans Pelicans is in the works. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Pelicans and Rondo are negotiating about a potential one-year contract. Lowe said the meeting between a contingent of Pelicans officials and Rondo in Louisville was "excellent”, adding that the both sides are enthusiastic to carve out a deal.
According to ESPN sources, the Pelicans' contingent included general manager Dell Demps and coach Alvin Gentry. They were dispatched from the Las Vegas Summer League to meet with Rondo.
If a deal pushes through, Rondo will be reunited with Cousins. They played together for one season with the Sacramento Kings during the 2015-16 season and formed a strong bond. After that season, the 31-year-old Rondo signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls where he had a roller-coaster season. He was waived by the Bulls in June after just one year with the team.
Pelicans plan to play Rondo and Jrue Holiday together
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Pelicans think Rondo could be on the floor at the same time as guard Jrue Holiday, who recently signed a five-year, $126 million guaranteed deal, whose value can increase up to $150 million with incentives. Rondo averaged just 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game during the regular season but regained his form in the playoffs as the Bulls stormed to a 2-0 lead over the Boston Celtics.
However, Rondo missed the rest of the series due to a broken thumb, allowing the Celtics to sweep the next four games. In two playoff games, Rondo averaged close to a triple-double with 11.5 points, 10.0 assists, and 8.5 rebounds. After that, the Bulls waived Rondo to save about $10 million of the $13.4 million he would have made next season.
A four-time All-Star and an NBA champion in Boston, Rondo bounced around after eight-plus years with the Celtics. He played for the Dallas Mavericks, Kings and the Bulls.
Lakers, Knicks also eyeing Rondo
Recently, Rondo met with the Los Angeles Lakers but the team did not offer him a contract. The Lakers have a $4.3 million exception they can use to sign the veteran playmaker, whom they see as backup and mentor to No.
2 overall pick Lonzo Ball. Rondo is also being pursued by the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Knicks plan to use Rondo as backup and mentor to their young backcourt composed of rookie Frank Ntilikina and Tim Hardaway Jr.
