While making an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, Matt Barnes asked Rajon Rondo if his time in the NBA is up.
Rajon Rondo confirmed to Barnes and the world that he is officially retiring from the league after 16 seasons. He hasn’t played since the 2021-22 season for the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. The two-time champ is 38-years-old.
“Absolutely,” said Rondo. “Yeah, I’m done. I can’t. I’d rather spend time with my kids.”
“What a time, it was definitely something that I never took for granted when I was in the game,” Rondo said. “I loved every minute of it, and I appreciate the brotherhood that I was able to share and bond and grow with over the years. I’ve learned so much in this game and it’s made me the man who I am today. … I tell people all the time, this wasn’t a dream of mine, it was a goal. I was able to lock in, stay disciplined, I didn’t party a lot in college. But it was worth the sacrifice of me getting to where I wanted to be in life.”
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Minnesota Timberwolves have signed Joe Ingles to a one-year, $3.6 million extension. This is so that he can continue his veteran leadership role he undertook during last season.
Last offseason, Ingles joined Minnesota after his $11 million team option with the Orlando Magic was declined. He appeared in 19 games this past season for the Timberwolves.
This is the lowest season, since his rookie season, of minutes averaged per game – coming in at 6.0 minutes. His rookie season saw him averaging 7.4 minutes with the Los Angeles Clippers, only playing five games, before getting traded to the Utah Jazz (where he averaged 21.2 minutes in 79 games).
Ingles will be 38 years old this October. This will be his 12th season in the National Basketball Association.
According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Lakers are bracing for impact of the reality that Dorian Finney-Smith will no longer be a member of their organization. He is most likely to sign with the Houston Rockets.
There is league-wide anticipation of Finney-Smith being lured away from Los Angeles to come to Houston to play for the Rockets. They are expected to give the defensive-minded player a four-year deal to persuade him.
Finney-Smith declined his $15.4 million player option with the Lakers to test free agency. He’s seen as the perfect fit for Houston, as the Rockets would allow him to come off the bench and be a productive tool for their second unit.
The Rockets have been looking to lock down their front court with a 3-and-D veteran. Free agency begins Monday at 6 PM EST.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Portland Trail Blazers and Deandre Ayton have come to a mutual agreement to finalize a contract buyout for the former number one overall pick to become a free agent.
Ayton will become an unrestricted agent where he’ll be able to clear waivers come Wednesday at 5 PM EST.
He was entering the final year of his $133 million contract, which he was owed $35.6 million. Charania described the big man’s departure as “a sudden, surprising” development into the free agency class mix.
In 40 games played last season, the 26-year-old averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
