Ricky Rubio was an integral part of the Cavaliers’ surprisingly fast start this season, playing well next to Darius Garland (and as the backup point guard), bringing high-level passing, quality perimeter defense and 13.1 points a game to the party. Then it ended when he suffered a season-ending torm ACL. The Cavaliers eventually traded Rubio’s contract to the Indiana Pacers for Caris LeVert, but Rubio was never going to suit up in Indy.
With Garland as the point guard of the future in Cleveland, one of the offseason priorities is finding a stable, veteran backup to play behind the young star. Enter Rubio, reports Chris Fedor at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The obvious question is Rubio’s recovery from the ACL tear. He had his surgery just after Christmas, and the usual return-to-court time in the NBA for an ACL tear is around nine months (some players return faster, some are slower, it depends on age and a number of other factors). Rubio could be eased into action around the start of training camp and be good to go when the season starts, it just depends on his recovery.
If he’s ready, Rubio would be a good fit because he’s had success playing next to Garland — the Cavaliers were +16.1 points per 100 possessions in the minutes they shared the court — and in a backup role. There’s a comfort level between him and the organization. A million things could change between now and July 1, but this is something to watch when we get to the heat of the summer.