The New Orleans Pelicans added a little play making, veteran presence and let’s be honest, ornery-ness to their roster for the 2017-18 season by signing Rajon Rondo to a one-year deal.
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
Rondo averaged 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds for the Bulls last season and got them to a surprising 2-0 lead against the top seeded Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA Playoffs before injuring his right hand.
Rondo is 31 and clearly not the defender he once was and doesn’t have the ability to get into the teeth of the defense at will like he used to, but he is still an elite passer and table-setter.
He is reunited with Cousins whom he flourished with and shockingly got along with while leading the league in assists in the 2015-16 NBA season.
He will backup and at times play alongside Jrue Holiday, an idea the Pelicans are already throwing out there that seems like a mistake.
Rondo is still a good point guard when healthy and motivated and for a team dying to make the playoffs next season and get DeMarcus Cousins to stay beyond 2017-18, this is worth the risk.
Rondo will get plenty of assists feeding Cousins and Anthony Davis.
