Los Angeles Lakers: 3 offseason moves already paying huge dividends

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3. Signing Rajon Rondo

Of all the offseason additions the Lakers made, this one seemed among the most awkward. A former champion with the Boston Celtics and longtime nemesis in the eyes of Lakers fans, Rajon Rondo wearing the purple and gold seemed like blasphemy.

By now, it’s safe to suggest the veteran point guard is a welcomed part of this rebuilt roster.

What’s really blown folks away is Rondo’s efficiency on the offensive end. Despite recent struggles as a shooter, the pugnacious passer has been outstanding when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. He’s averaging 10.6 points per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from downtown and 75 percent from the charity stripe.

Those numbers, along with Rondo’s 7.0 assists per game, top Lonzo Ball‘s by a considerable margin despite similar minutes. He’s quickly jelled with James and the rest of the Lakers’ lineup, serving as an integral part of the bench group and constant thorn in opponents’ sides.

It was easy to overlook Rondo coming into the season considering some of his recent struggles and inconsistency. So far this season, though, the Lakers have gotten excellent play out of the 32-year-old guard. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon.