Rajon Rondo has verbally agreed to a two-year deal with the Bulls worth $30 million, league sources said.
Rondo, who will be the starting point guard, led the NBA in assists last season at 11.7 per game while playing for the Kings. But the four-time All-Star has a reputation for a strong personality and clashed with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle during his lone season in Dallas.
Rondo met with the Bulls in Chicago on Friday. He watched film with coach Fred Hoiberg for an hour, a source said, and both came away convinced Rondo is a good fit for what Hoiberg wants to do offensively.
"I'm excited," he told Marc Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated website, who first reported the news. "Great organization with pieces around me that I'm excited about."
Rondo played well on a make-good, one-season deal with the Kings last season, adding averages of 11.7 points and 6 rebounds. But he also drew a one-game suspension for a homophobic slur of official Bill Kennedy, who is gay.
Previously, the Bulls had no plans to waive veteran Jose Calderon. Now, either he or unheralded Spencer Dinwiddie likely won't be on next season's team. Dinwiddie's deal is non-guaranteed.
Rondo's signing brings the Bulls to the salary floor of $84 million and all but eliminates the pipe dream that was signing Dwyane Wade.
Over 10 seasons, Rondo owns career averages of 11 points and 8.7 assists.
The Bulls still own roughly $10 million of cap space.
