Report: Rondo to decline player option with Lakers

FILE – Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is expected to decline his $2.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and become an unrestricted free agent, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks are expected to be among the teams vying to sign Rondo, the Times reported.

The 34-year-old guard averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 48 games last season. He served as a mentor for younger players and secured his second NBA championship ring to go along with the first one that he captured as a rookie with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

In his career, Rondo has averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 assists and 4.7 boards in 873 games (729 starts). He has played for six teams including the Lakers, Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans.