The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers for Denzel Valentine.

The Lakers are giving Rondo an opportunity to play regular minutes and to also create a roster spot.

With the Cavaliers losing Ricky Rubio for the season, they suddenly had a need for a point guard to play a bigger role. Rondo has been in COVID-19 protocols since Sunday and will need to be cleared before joining the Cavaliers (20-14).

The Cleveland Cavaliers are closing in on trading for Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo would be a replacement for Ricky Rubio, who is out for the rest of the season following a torn ACL in his left knee.

Rondo will be a low-cost backup for Darius Garland. Cleveland will likely send a minimal return to LA to complete the trade. The Cavs will need to waive a player to make room for Rondo.

The trade will open up a roster for the Lakers, while also clearing some of their luxury tax burden. Because Los Angeles is so far over the tax line, eating a salary to open a roster spot would have cost them considerable money in tax penalties. Now, the Lakers can sign a veteran to a rest of season contract at a far lower tax hit.

Russell Westbrook has struggled during the opening weeks of his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers and expressed frustration with outside direction on how he should play. 

"Everybody wants me to do this but then they don't want me to do this," Westbrook said on a video conference call with reporters Monday. "Honestly, I'm over the whole situation with what everyone else wants me to do and what they think I should be doing."

LeBron James has continued to back Westbrook.

"People are saying 'let Russ be Russ,' I think nobody understands what that means," Westbrook continued. "I think people just say it -- 'let Russ be Russ' -- but nobody actually knows what that means but myself. And I'm gonna lean on that and make sure I do what I'm supposed to do. And let everything else outside the locker room, whatever that may be, take care of itself."

The Los Angeles Lakers will not sign Isaiah Thomas to a second 10-Day contract via the hardship exception. Despite being eligible to re-sign Thomas to another hardship deal, the Lakers are going to go in a different direction.

Multiple teams are expected to show interest in bringing in Thomas.

In four games with Los Angeles, Thomas has averaged 9.3 points in 25.3 minutes per contest. Thomas has shot just 30.8% from the field and 22.7% from behind the arc.

Russell Westbrook left the arena following the Los Angeles Lakers' 122-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets without speaking to reporters. Westbrook shot just 4-for-20 from the field and had a notable defensive lapse that led to a Patty Mills three-pointer in crunch time.

LeBron James backed Westbrook in his comments to the media.

"He gave us extra possessions, he gave us a lot of looks around the basket, which I know that he can't stand [failing to convert] as well," James said. "But as far as the effort piece, if a guy plays hard, if a guy leaves it all out on the floor, I got no problem with that. It's a make-or-miss league."

David Fizdale was also supportive of Westbrook.

"A big part of it is he just wants it so bad," Fizdale said. "I mean, you can just see it in him, everybody does. He wants it so bad. And I know that's just hard for him when it doesn't work out. And I know he cares like crazy.

"I just want him to take a lot of that pressure off himself, keep attacking, keep playing the way we know he can."

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to sign Darren Collison and Stanley Johnson to 10-day hardship deals.

Collison worked out recently for the Lakers at their practice facility.

Collison retired following the 18-19 season despite receiving offers in the $10 million per year range. Collison had discussed a return at various points in the past. 

The Lakers have several players currently in COVID-19 protocols. 

Trevor Ariza has entered the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Ariza recently made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers following ankle surgery. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to sign Jemerrio Jones on a 10-day hardship exception contract.

Jones appeared in six games for the Lakers during the 18-19 season.

Jones has averaged 6.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25.7 minutes per game this season with the Wisconsin Herd of the G League. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to sign Mason Jones to a Two-Way contract from the South Bay Lakers. 

Jones appeared in 32 games last season with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers. 

Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis is out for a minimum of four weeks due to a sprained MCL in his left knee. Davis was injured during the Lakers game vs the Timberwolves on Friday.

Davis has played through injuries for most of this season, only missing three games. He was in and out of the lineup last season due to various injuries.

The Lakers said Davis will be reevaluated in four weeks, but that's not necessarily a return-to-play date for Davis. The team indicated they'll be cautious with Davis on his return.