The Athletic's Shams Chanaria reported the two sides had agreed to a deal to give the Cavs crucial backcourt help following an injury to Ricky Rubio.
Rubio suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Cleveland's game with the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
He had played a critical creative role for the Cavs, who are fifth in the Eastern Conference at 20-15. His 6.6 assists per game rank 15th in the NBA.
Rondo, 35, will look to help fill the void having received limited playing time for the Lakers this season.
His average of 16.1 minutes per game is the lowest of Rondo's career, which is in its 16th year.
Unsurprisingly given his minutes, Rondo is averaging career-lows in points per game (3.1) and assists (3.7) while he is shooting at a career-low 32.4 per cent from the field.
Rondo averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 48 games with Los Angeles before the league was suspended on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lakers, who were leading the Western Conference with a 49-14 record at the time, will resume their season on July 30 against the Los Angeles Clippers at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida.
Rondo could return if the Lakers make a run in the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin on August 17.
A first-round pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the 34-year-old Rondo has averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 873 career regular-season games. He has earned four All-Star selections and been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice.
Rondo won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in his second season in the league in 2007-08. He has averaged 14.0 points, 9.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 105 career playoff games.
The Lakers will also be without starting guard Avery Bradley for the NBA's restart after he opted out due to concerns over the coronavirus. Bradley averaged 8.6 points in 49 games this season.
Rondo is back with the Lakers after spending last season split between the Atlanta Hawks and city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers.
A championship winner with the Lakers in 2019-20, Rondo was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies by the Clippers at the end of the 2020-21 campaign before agreeing a contract buyout and clearing waivers.
With Rondo (35) back at the Staples Center alongside Carmelo Anthony (37), LeBron James (36), Marc Gasol (36), Trevor Ariza (36) and Dwight Howard (35), the Lakers have the oldest team in the NBA this season.
The Lakers also boast former MVP Russell Westbrook (32) following his arrival from the Washington Wizards.
Amid criticism over the age of the team, Rondo told reporters on Tuesday: "Wisdom is definitely key to winning a championship.
"We have a lot of that, obviously, with the age and experience on the court. I'm most excited about not being the oldest guy on the team anymore.
"I'm actually about [fifth oldest] now, so that's a big step for me going from two months ago I was the oldest guy on the team and now I'm one of the young guys."
After ending their 10-year title drought in 2020, the Lakers struggled last season as James and Anthony Davis endured injury problems.
The Lakers finished with a 42-30 win-loss record and stumbled into the play-in tournament before losing to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.
Rondo added: "I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to the naysayers saying our age being a problem, but you don't have longevity in this league without discipline.
"We have guys that have the mileage, but there's a reason they're still playing in this league at this level for so many years. So I'm not worried about anything or the spectators saying age makes a difference.
"I think the mind is going to be a big key in why we win this year."
The top-seeded Lakers made it 1-1 in the Western Conference semi-finals as guard Rondo produced a dominant outing on Sunday to mark his return to form and fitness.
Rondo had 10 points, nine assists and five steals against the Rockets off the bench in just his second appearance in the bubble.
But James highlighted Rondo's overall influence, which the Lakers have missed since he suffered a thumb injury in practice in July.
"I think he was just extremely aggressive, not only offensively, but defensively – taking the challenge on James [Harden], taking the challenge on whoever he was guarding. Just trying to lead," said James, who had 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
"I mean, that's what 'Do [Rondo] is. He's a leader. And for us to have him back in the postseason, it's a key for our team.
"He comes in, he pushes the tempo, he gets guys involved and that doesn't always show up in the stat sheet.
"The intangibles that he does both offensively and defensively – his nose is always around the ball and he just makes plays for us, and tonight was another example of that."
The Lakers switched things up after the 112-97 loss in Game 1 and James said it showcased the team's versatility.
"We built the team to be able to play in different ways and to be able to play big versus teams, to be able to play small, to be able to play in between," he said.
"We built that from the beginning and we have that, always had that, in our toolbox."
Jimmy Butler and Miami delayed the Lakers' title celebrations by winning Game 5 to stave off elimination at Walt Disney World on Friday.
But there was no denying the red-hot Lakers on Sunday as the storied franchise ended their 10-year wait for glory with a 4-2 series victory in Orlando, Florida.
James – who broke the record for most playoff appearances with 260 – captured a fourth NBA title after posting his 11th Finals triple-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Anthony Davis (19 points and 15 rebounds) had a double-double for his maiden championship.
The Heat were buoyed by the return of star guard Goran Dragic (5 points), who made his comeback from a foot injury, which had sidelined him since Game 1.
But Miami were outplayed from the outset as the Lakers extinguished the Heat with a defensive masterclass.
The Lakers made a hot start, leading 28-20 at the end of the first quarter behind James' nine points, five rebounds and three assists.
Los Angeles showed no mercy as they took a comprehensive 64-36 lead into half-time – 15 points apiece from Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17 points) fuelling the Lakers.
Rajon Rondo (19 points) dazzled off the bench, managing 13 points on six-of-six shooting from the field while he made his only three-point attempt.
It came as no Heat player scored double-digit points through two quarters.
While the Heat were only outscored by a point in the third quarter, the damage was already done as the Lakers cruised to their 17th NBA championship following a season which saw franchise great Kobe Bryant tragically killed in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter in January.
Bam Adebayo led the steamrolled Heat with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Butler put up 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Davis posted a double-double and James top-scored in Friday's 124-114 victory against the Heat at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The Heat were without injured stars Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic in Game 2 following Miami's humbling in the opening game of the NBA showpiece.
Jimmy Butler tried to carry the load for the rallying Heat with 25 points and 13 assists, and while Miami refused to surrender, there was no stopping the high-flying Lakers – who are eyeing their first championship since 2010.
Davis became the third player with at least 30 points in each of his first two career games in the Finals, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan (1991) and Kevin Durant (2012), after scoring 32 points, per Stats Perform.
Three-time NBA champion James finished with 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
James, who moved up to sixth on the all-time Finals list for games played after making his 51st appearance, also climbed up to fourth for all-time Finals rebounds.
Outclassed in Game 1, there were signs of improvement from the short-handed Heat, who narrowed the margin to as little as four points at one point in the contest.
Kelly Olynyk had 24 points and nine rebounds off the bench, however, the Lakers had too much firepower.
Rajon Rondo was three of four from three-point range for 16 points and 10 assists as a reserve, while Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both contributed 11 points.
Without injured duo Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic and trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven Finals, the Heat had their backs against the wall amid suggestions they could be swept by the Lakers in Orlando, Florida.
But Butler had other ideas as the five-time All-Star posted 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 3 to cut the Lakers' series lead to 2-1 at Walt Disney World Resort on Sunday.
Butler became the first player with 40-plus points and 12-plus assists in an NBA Finals game since Jerry West in 1969, per Stats Perform.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and as many turnovers, while team-mate Anthony Davis (15 points) struggled following five turnovers and four fouls.
All eyes were on the top-seeded Lakers, with James and Davis looking to deliver a first championship to the storied franchise in 10 years.
But the Heat impressed from the outset as Lakers star Davis struggled in the third showdown.
Miami raced out to a 22-9 lead and eventually ended the opening quarter 26-23 ahead, with Davis scoreless after four turnovers in eight minutes of play.
James tried to keep the Lakers in the contest but Butler stayed hot, his 19 points, six rebounds and six assists ensuring the Heat led 58-54 at half-time.
The Lakers rallied early in the fourth quarter – back-to-back three-pointers from Markieff Morris (19 points) and Rajon Rondo's layup helping to put the Los Angeles franchise ahead 91-89, having started the final period trailing 85-80.
But Butler and the Heat had all the answers as they avoided going down 3-0 – Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk finishing with 17 points apiece, while Duncan Robinson (13) and Jae Crowder (12) made solid contributions.
The Lakers won through their play-in game against the Golden State Warriors, earning seventh seed and the right to take on the second seed Suns, who are led by experienced point guard Paul.
Four-time NBA champion James has remarkably never faced 11-time NBA All-Star and high school friend Paul in the postseason.
Rondo and Green are widely known for their basketball intelligence and James identified Paul among those lofty standards.
"It's going to be comparable to playing against Rondo in a series, playing against Draymond in a series," James said during a video conference call on Friday.
"You have those out-of-this-world IQ type guys and fierce competitors, at the same time so it's the same thing.
"Every time I faced Rondo in the past, I knew I had to be not only on my A-game as far as my game, but also my mind as well and that's the same with Draymond, every time you go against those Warriors teams.
"I've had experiences with those two guys, so that will definitely help me in matching up with CP [Paul] because I know the competitor and I know the IQ of the basketball player that he is."
The Lakers may be the seventh seed but head into their series with the Suns as the bookmakers favourites, having been 2019-20 champions.
The Suns surprised a lot of people by ending their long playoffs wait and finishing as high as second in the Western Conference.
Suns coach Monty Williams insisted that being considered underdogs did not faze his side.
"We all hear it," Williams said on Friday. "Ultimately you got to get out there and compete for 48 minutes, and that's what we plan to do.
"Did anybody think we were going to win 51 games this year? In a shortened season? Don't think so. So why would we listen to those people now?"
On facing the reigning champions first up, he added: "Our guys aren't bitter. We're looking forward to competing against the Lakers.
"We're not upset or feel like anybody's done something to our Cheerios. We have to go play the Lakers."
Veteran point guard Lowry, on an expiring contract, was seen as a potentially key pick-up for either the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Miami Heat as they chase the title.
But the Raptors did not get a deal that appealed to them and will allow their greatest ever player to reach free agency.
There were significant moves elsewhere, though, as teams seized the last opportunity to agree trades.
ONE OUT IN TORONTO
Toronto, playing the season in Tampa, may have held on to Lowry, but they do not appear in contention this year at 18-26 and did deal Norman Powell.
The Portland Trail Blazers brought in the wing, one of the league's best three-point shooters in 2020-21, as Gary Trent Jr and Rodney Hood moved in the opposite direction.
Rather than one of the Raptors' shooters, the Heat will rely on Victor Oladipo, recruited from the Houston Rockets, over the coming months.
Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a draft swap was enough to do a deal with the Rockets.
Nemanja Bjelica also went to Miami from the Sacramento Kings for Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.
And the Heat are said to be favourites for LaMarcus Aldridge after he was bought out by the San Antonio Spurs. Andre Drummond, another potential buyout, was not traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
THREE GO IN ORLANDO
As Toronto resisted the urge to take whatever they could get, the Orlando Magic did the opposite and cashed in.
All-Star Nikola Vucevic was a surprising early exit on Thursday as he went to the Chicago Bulls, along with Al-Farouq Aminu, in return for Otto Porter Jr, Wendell Carter Jr and two first-round picks.
Chicago added Daniel Theis from the Boston Celtics, but Lonzo Ball stayed put at the New Orleans Pelicans, while it was far from Orlando's only outgoing.
Evan Fournier headed to the Celtics, and the Denver Nuggets won the race for Aaron Gordon. His signing, along with Gary Clark, cost the Nuggets a first-round pick as well as Gary Harris and RJ Hampton.
Denver also added JaVale McGee in a deal with the Cavs.
RONDO RETURNS TO LA
Rajon Rondo, a team-mate of McGee's on the title-winning Lakers last season, has moved back to LA to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rondo played a big role in the playoffs for the Lakers and his signing cost the Clippers three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, sent to the Atlanta Hawks.
Western Conference rivals the Dallas Mavericks got two shooters from the Pelicans in the form of JJ Redick and Nicolo Melli, parting with James Johnson, Wes Iwundu and a second-round pick.
The Sixers landed George Hill in a three-team trade involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks, while the Charlotte Hornets brought in Brad Wanamaker.
Along with acquiring former Sixth Man of the Year Williams, the Hawks will also gain two future second-round draft picks.
The deal means the 35-year-old Rondo makes a swift return to Los Angeles, where he won his second NBA championship with the Lakers last season.
He joined the Hawks on a two-year, $15million deal, but the lure of a reunion with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who built a close relationship with Rondo as an assistant at the Boston Celtics between 2011 and 2013, proved significant.
"He's fiery, that's what we need," Lue said after the Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs 98-85 on Thursday, as quoted by ESPN.
"He's tough. He understands the game. And he respects people as a straight shooter and will tell them the truth.
"That was my biggest thing in Boston, was being honest with him and telling him the truth and keeping it real with him."
Lue said he was "not sure right now" whether Rondo would start or come off the bench.
Williams, 34, is certainly a masterful exponent when cast in the latter role, having won three of the past six Sixth Man of the Year awards, which recognises the best performing substitute in the league.
"He's going to be missed for everything he brought and not just basketball," Lue said of the point guard, who passed 15,000 career points during the Clippers' game with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
"I just think he was a great person. That's what I love the most.
"We all knew he was a great basketball player, but just him as a human being and what he stood for and how he always boosted the morale of the team with everyone around him. That's what we are going to miss the most.''
The top-seeded Lakers will face eighth seed the Trail Blazers in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs, starting Tuesday in Orlando.
Portland secured a date against LeBron James and the Lakers thanks to Saturday's play-in victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with Lillard instrumental in the Trail Blazers' remarkable run to the postseason.
Lillard leads the NBA in scoring at Walt Disney World Resort since the restart with 37.6 points per game, including the play-in clash. He is also averaging 46.3 points in his past four games following a career-high 61 against the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month.
As the Lakers prepare to make their first playoff appearance since 2013, Vogel – in his maiden season with the storied franchise – praised Lillard and the Trail Blazers.
"Definitely not your typical eighth seed," Vogel said in a videoconference call on Sunday. "They've played at an elite level during this stretch in the bubble, at least offensively.
"And we've got a ton of respect for obviously Dame and CJ [McCollum] and [Jusuf] Nurkic, but really for their whole team and their whole culture. They've got a system that's been together for a number of years.
"They have the continuity piece, [Western] Conference Finals last year, so just a ton of respect for what they're bringing to the table."
Lakers star Anthony Davis also hailed Lillard, adding: "He's balling right now. He’s hot. He's doing whatever he's doing, whatever he can do to make his team win. He's carrying the load. Playing a ton of minutes.
"And so he's the head of the snake for their team. You gotta do your best to contain him and take away some of his tendencies. But they also have other guys who make plays as well.
"So they're a tough opponent, but everybody knows what level he's on and his mindset. And he's gonna go out there and do what he can to help his team win."
Meanwhile, Vogel said Rajon Rondo will clear quarantine on Monday, though there is no timetable for the Lakers guard's return.
Rondo has been sidelined with a fractured right thumb, forced to leave the Orlando bubble prior to the season resuming amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm not sure exactly when he's going to be available to be in uniform," Vogel said. "We'll get him on the court and see where he's at. But no specific timetable yet on him."
James produced a masterclass with 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Lakers seal a 4-1 series victory over the Portland Trail Blazers by winning 131-122 on Saturday.
The three-time NBA champion and four-time MVP had two triple-doubles and two double-doubles in the Western Conference first-round matchup at Walt Disney World Resort.
As the top-seeded Lakers await the Houston Rockets or Oklahoma City Thunder, Vogel was asked if James – averaging a triple-double in the postseason – is taken for granted within the league.
"I think the media and maybe the fans are taking for granted but we don't take it for granted inhouse here," Vogel replied following Monday's practice.
"Our coaching staff, front office and his team-mates, we all really understand appreciate how special his performances are and what he brings to the table.
"We definitely don't take that for granted."
The Lakers, meanwhile, could be boosted by the return of guard Rajon Rondo for the Western Conference semi-finals.
Rondo has been sidelined in Orlando, Florida since suffering a fractured right thumb in July.
"He did practice today, did look good," Vogel told reporters. "We're hopeful to have him in this series."
Westbrook's Rockets were knocked out of the Western Conference semi-finals in Orlando on Saturday after falling to a heavy 119-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5.
There was a flashpoint in the fourth quarter when Westbrook reacted to a comment from William Rondo, whose sibling later said he had called the Rockets star "trash".
"People at the game, you're supposed to shut your mouth and watch the game," Westbrook told reporters.
"That's the rules, especially when you have families and people here. Apparently, I guess because [Rajon] Rondo was talking s***, [William] decided he wanted to hop in, too.
"But it's okay. I mean, it's all good, I get it. He wanted to take up for his brother. But those rules stand for everybody, though, no matter who it is – family, whatever.
"He started talking crazy. I don't play that game."
James Harden said the situation was disappointing and added: "It affected us."
Guests inside the NBA bubble have been warned not to be verbally aggressive or enter the floor.
The incident saw William Rondo led away by security, but Rajon hopes his brother is not punished too heavily.
"He didn't do anything crazy," he said. "He called the man 'trash'. Fans do what fans do. He's my brother first. He didn't do anything disrespectful."
The defeat for the Rockets is sure to see speculation about the future of head coach Mike D'Antoni, whose contract is now expired, crank up.
D'Antoni has been linked with positions at the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers but hinted his desire is to remain in Houston.
"We've got a great organisation, great city, great fans, team's great," he said.
"I mean, everything's good here. We'll see what happens, but I couldn't ask for a better situation. I had four years and hopefully it keeps going. You just never know."
