Lakers News: Rajon Rondo Expected to Return in 6-8 Weeks After Thumb Surgery

Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo underwent surgery on his fractured right thumb Wednesday and is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks. 

Rondo suffered the thumb fracture in practice this week. The timetable of the injury will likely keep him out through at least the first round of the playoffs.

Rondo was expected to play an expanded role for the Lakers after Avery Bradley opted out of the NBA's restart in Orlando.

The Lakers signed JR Smith to replace Bradley and added Dion Waiters before the season shut down in March, but they will not be able to sign a replacement for Rondo. His absence will leave a sizable hole in the Lakers' depth chart, which was already hurting for a reliable primary ball-handler coming off the bench.

Quinn Cook and Alex Caruso will probably get the first look at filling Rondo's spot in the rotation. Caruso's primarily played off the ball this season, so Cook may be getting extended minutes once the season resumes after essentially being jettisoned from the rotation before the pandemic.

Luckily for the Lakers, this isn't an issue that should hurt their championship chances. Rondo should be back for Round 2, which is the earliest point at which the Lakers would play a team that could reasonably challenge them in a seven-game series.

His absence will nevertheless stretch the team thinner and create a smaller margin for error or injury.