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LAS VEGAS (AP) Rajon Rondo officially joined the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday with a clear idea of his future with LeBron James.
"We are supposed to win now," said Rondo. to a one-year contract worth $ 9 million earlier this week to go alongside James, whose signature has not yet been announced by the Lakers.
The veteran leader is looking forward to being a Lonzo Ball Mentor. a chance for immediate success with the club completely overhauled. The Lakers have not made the playoffs for a franchise record of five consecutive seasons, but Rondo believes that they will make immediate progress toward contention for a NBA 17th championship.
"You put any group of players around LeBron James, as he did (eight) times, he went to the final," said Rondo. "So my expectations are exactly the same – even with the Warriors adding (DeMarcus Cousins) and the Rockets being what they are, I think we're right in the mix." It's early, obviously, and I promise nothing, but at the end of the day, I'm waiting to win … nothing else. "
Rondo is a familiar figure to Lakers fans, and not necessarily in the common sense. He played a major role for the Celtics when they met the Lakers in the NBA finals, winning a ring with Boston in 2008 and losing to LA in 2010.
See Rondo on the other side of this NBA rivalry will not be as bizarre as Rondo for some Lakers fans
"Does this sound strange to you? Um, no," Rondo said. My battles with the Lakers took place over ten years ago and none of the players I was fighting with were on the same list.
Rondo, 32, did not hesitate to play with Ball, the precursor chosen. by the Lakers with the second overall pick in last year 's project. Ball will be spread for most of the summer with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but Rondo is eager to work on their chemistry in the fall.
"I'm excited to have a player of this age and try to help as much as I can," said Rondo, a starter for all the small parts of his first 12 NBA seasons spent with five franchises.
Rondo sees the potential surplus of the Lakers as an advantage. He is not worried about finding roles for everyone in Luke Walton's attack, which is designed to create a lot of offensive chances for all players.
"It will be very versatile, and I do not think you will be able to enlighten and stick to a game plan as far as to be able to". stop a certain player, "said Rondo. "I think guys like LeBron or myself did not play with a lot of guys doing games for me, so it will be exciting to just get up, have some easy looks, be able to push the pace in the open court. "
The Lakers also announced the new signing of Kentavious guard Caldwell-Pope, who has been awarded a one-year contract worth $ 12 million to provide a perimeter fire threat to an offense that could still use more outside shooters.
The Lakers have not yet announced the acquisitions of James or veterans Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee a profound transformation after the worst half-decade of the history of the franchise
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More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball
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