Ricky Rubio and the Cavs are reunited, and it feels so good!
According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, the Cavs are giving Ricky Rubio a three-year deal worth $18.4 million, including a partial guarantee in the final year.
Rubio, who was acquired by the Cavs last August in the deal that sent Taurean Prince and a 2022 second-round pick to Minnesota, tore his left ACL in December and ultimately his expiring contract was traded to the Pacers in February in the deal that brought Caris LeVert to Cleveland.
The 31-year-old guard was having a tremendous season and was one of the reasons the Cavs got off to a great start. In 34 games last season (eight starts), Rubio averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.44 steals.
The Cavs tried everything in their power to replace Rubio, including adding veteran Rajon Rondo, but he battled injuries as well, and Cleveland did not get what they needed from that backup point guard spot, which forced All-Star Darius Garland to log heavy minutes.
There are no guarantees that the 11-year veteran will be the same player when he returns, probably sometime in December or January. Remember, Rubio tore the same ACL in 2012, and now he’s a little older, so it should be interesting how this plays out.
