After sending away Jimmy Butler in a shocking trade right as the 2017 NBA Draft was getting under way, the Chicago Bulls have continued their transition into rebuild mode by waiving veteran point guard Rajon Rondo late Friday evening.
In a press release, the Bulls announced that Isaiah Canaan would be waived as well. Via Bulls.com:
The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guards Rajon Rondo and Isaiah Canaan.
During his time with Chicago, Rondo appeared in 69 games (42 starts) and averaged 7.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.7 apg in 26.7 mpg. He shot .408 from the field, .376 from three and .600 from the free throw line. Rondo originally signed with the Bulls as a free agent on July 7, 2016.
Now, Dwyane Wade is the last of the "Three Alphas" left standing.
Signed last summer to a two-year, $27M deal as the Bulls tried in vain to build a contender, Rondo never really fit in with Chicago, struggling through the season and feuding with his teammates on Instagram.
Then, out of nowhere, he turned things on in the playoffs, helping the Bulls jump out to a 2-0 lead on the No. 1-seeded Boston Celtics before a broken thumb knocked him out of the series, and the Bulls lost the next four games to be eliminated.
Where Rondo goes from here will be interesting to see, as he's been unable to find a foothold since being traded from the Celtics, bouncing around from the Mavericks, to the Kings, to the Bulls, and now to free agency. Though he's clearly not the player he was in Boston, someone will surely give him a chance, especially if he's willing to take a short-term deal.
