Bulls waive Rajon Rondo

The Chicago Bulls have waived Rajon Rondo, the team announced Friday.

By Saturday, Rondo's $13.3-million salary for the 2017-18 season would've been fully guaranteed. By waiving him ahead of the deadline, the Bulls are on the hook for just $3 million, and wipe his contract off their books.

Chicago tried to find a trade partner for the polarizing point guard ahead of the deadline, but came up empty. Team president John Paxson has also said there's a "really good chance" the Bulls try to bring Rondo back, which could mean nothing, or could mean they plan to try signing him at a lower price.

The 31-year-old Rondo had an up-and-down 2016-17 season, but proved integral in Chicago's first two playoff games against his former club, the Boston Celtics - both of which the Bulls won - before fracturing his thumb and sitting out the next four games, all of which Chicago lost.

Friday's move comes as part of a point-guard purge for the Bulls, who also waived Isaiah Canaan and declined to tender a qualifying offer to Michael Carter-Williams.