NBA Rumors: Lakers Almost Signed This NBA Veteran Before Rajon Rondo Buyout

The Lakers are stopping at nothing. The LA-based franchise has taken its first-round exit from the NBA Playoffs 2021 to heart and is leaving no stones unturned to improve their unit. Notably, the Lake Show has already acquired four former players in Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, and Dwight Howard.

But that’s not it. Chances are high that Rajon Rondo can become the fifth former Laker to rejoin the unit after a gap. Now, this whole thing turns even more interesting with the breaking that Rondo’s benefit is a zero-sum game for an NBA vet.

Rajon Rondo to Lakers means a dead-end for Isaiah Thomas

4x NBA All-Star Rajon Rondo last played with the Lakers for two seasons and won a title with them in 2020. Now, after the Clippers cut him in a trade, the 35-YO reached a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. This has suddenly shifted the Lakers’ focus from acquiring Isaiah Thomas to getting their hands on Playoff Rondo.

Interestingly, a place for Rondo would mean no space for Isaiah to rejoin his former team. Yes, Isiah Thomas had last played with the Lakers in 2017-18 when Rob Pelinka had given away Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance to the Cavs for IT, Channing Frye, and a protected round 1 pick. 

However, Isaiah’s time at LA remained very short, as he could contribute to just 17 games. And now, his bid for a comeback also seems to be going null.

Read more – NBA Star Isaiah Thomas Ranks Klay Thompson Over Stephen Curry on Shocking Metric

When the Pizza Guy showed his desperation to join the Lake Show

On May 7, 2021, the Lakers lost a crucial game to the Blazers that forced them down to #7 seed. That 101-106 loss came at a time when the shorthanded Lakers did not want to participate in the play-in tournament. It was the time when the Lakers’ duo was far from reaching 100% fitness and they desperately needed some help.

That’s when Isaiah Thomas saw an opportunity and extended his help to the struggling organization. However, the Lakers had then turned a blind eye towards the request, further leaving IT’s comeback chances hanging by a thread. 

The star point guard last played with LeBron in 2017, but his injury issues forced him out. Now, he has just three games worth of experience from last year and the Lakers away from his reach. Now, although the Lakers fans love Isaiah, do you think he will ever be back in the golden uniform? Help us know in the comments section below.

Watch this story – Isiah Thomas vs Michael Jordan, LeBron James vs Steph Curry, and Other Great NBA Rivalries of All Time