Veteran PG Rajon Rondo to rejoin Los Angeles Lakers on 1-year deal

Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo intends to sign a short-term contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers Monday.

League sources told ESPN that Rondo agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Lakers. The team has yet to confirm the agreement, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday.

Rondo, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend, will still earn his full $7.5 million salary this season between the buyout and his pending contract with the Lakers.

The Athletic and the Los Angeles Times previously reported that the Lakers were the front-runners to sign Rondo after his buyout with the Grizzlies. Memphis initially acquired him from the L.A. Clippers earlier this month as part of the Eric Bledsoe trade.

Rondo, a two-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star selection, played for the Lakers for two seasons from 2018-20. He was a key piece on Los Angeles' championship team in the Orlando, Fla., bubble.

The 35-year-old Rondo will provide depth for the Lakers at point guard, with superstars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook expected to handle most of the ball-handling duties for the team.

Rondo, who averaged 5.4 points and 4.4 assists over 45 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Clippers last season, will be the fifth former Lakers player to rejoin the organization this off-season, joining Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington.