The Los Angeles Clippers have finally gotten involved in a trade right before the NBA trade deadline. They've been searching for a playmaking point guard and seem to have found one after agreeing to a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. The Clippers were rumored to be interested in Lonzo Ball, but after this acquisition, it's not likely they couldn't get that trade with the New Orleans Pelicans to fall through.
In this trade, the Los Angeles receive Rajon Rondo, while the Atlanta Hawks acquire Lou Williams, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Clippers also send two future second-round picks to the Hawks in the deal, per source.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
The Clippers are currently ranked third in the Western Conference with a 29-16 record. The roster is rather stacked as the postseason quickly approaches. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the way for this squad, the Clippers have been a dangerous team to play against this year.
They have plenty of scorers on the roster, so much so, they were willing to give some away to acquire Rajon Rondo. Rondo isn't known for his scoring ability, but rather, to play defense and facilitate the ball to his teammates. Receiving minimal minutes in Atlanta, Rondo was wasting away on the bench. He's only averaging 3.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Rondo might be receiving a bump in playing time now that he's in Los Angeles. They likely use Reggie Jackson more as a scoring guard, while Patrick Beverley and Rondo rotate in-and-out as the main point guards. This will give the Clippers much more ball movement and allow for the elite scorers to be more involved as well. The Clippers have built a team with an incredibly tough mentality, which is something they'll need during the postseason this year.
The Atlanta Hawks on the other hand pick up a scoring expert in Lou Williams. It's been a down year for him this season, as he's only averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game. However, now that he's in Atlanta, he should be in a role more suitable to his playing style. He'll also serve as an excellent mentor for Trae Young, who is shaping up to be a superstar in the NBA.
Atlanta is in the middle of the playoff race as well, as they currently reside in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. With a .500 record, this team has had its fair share of ups and downs this season. Adding Williams to the team provides some consistent scoring off the bench which is something this team was missing throughout the year. As the season is nearing an end, this trade could be what they needed to ensure a spot in the playoffs.
Trade Grades
Los Angeles Clippers – (B-)
Atlanta Hawks – (B)
The Clippers receive a B- because Rajon Rondo is a shell of his former self. He was at one point one of the better point guards in the league, but we haven't seen him play at that level for years now. Also factoring in Rondo's age (34), it's possible he hardly sees any time on the court at all. Patrick Beverly and Reggie Jackson have been rotating as the main point guards for this team, and it might be difficult for Rondo to adjust to the Clippers' rotation.
For the Hawks, they improved their scoring off of the bench which is what they've been needing this year anyway. Although, Williams is another older player (34) whose best years are likely behind him. Even so, Williams has a much better opportunity to play meaningful time for the Hawks than Rondo does for the Clippers.
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