Hawks sign Rondo to two-year, $15M deal

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth 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. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is joining the Atlanta Hawks on a two-year, $15 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

Rondo, 34, is entering his 15th NBA season and spent the past two with the Los Angeles Lakers. He will provide the Hawks with a valuable puzzle piece while also mentoring 22-year-old point guard Trae Young.

The Hawks also reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with guard Kris Dunn, a day after adding veteran swingman Danilo Gallinari.

Gallinari, who spent last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, reportedly finalized a three-year, $61.5 million deal with the Hawks on Friday.

Rondo declined a $2.6 million player option with the Lakers last month.

Last season, he appeared in 48 games, averaging 7.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds over 20.5 minutes. After recovering from a fractured right thumb during the playoffs, he contributed 8.9 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds over 16 games as the Lakers won the NBA title.

He thanked the Lakers, his teammates and the fans on Instagram earlier Saturday.

“To the fans…thank you for welcoming me with open arms from Day 1 and showing me love. Being apart of #LakeShow was something special and I’m proud we brought it back to you!”

A four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Rondo was a first-round draft pick of the Phoenix Suns before he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2006. Besides spending nine years with the Celtics, he also has played for the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans and Lakers.

In 873 career games (729 starts), Rondo has averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He has led the NBA in assists four times.

–Field Level Media