Cavs rumors, Ricky Rubio return trending in right direction

In Cavs rumors, it sounds like the door is open for Ricky Rubio to return to the team for the 2022-2023 season.

In fact, an anonymous source told Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor (subscription) that the point guard’s return  was “highly likely.”

Rubio suffered a season ending knee injury in January and his contract was traded in the Cavs’ deal for Caris LeVert.

Before the injury, Rubio looked tailor-made to run with this team as a pass-first point guard capable of scoring.

A lot of fans came back to the Cavs this season, especially with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley emerging as potential superstars. However, for me, it was watching Rubio move the ball that made watching the Wine & Gold fun again.

As for for the rumor, it’s welcome news because talking about Rubio returning to his backup point guard role was always an easy thing to do. Whether or not it would come to fruition was always the mystery.

Remember, at the time of the trade that brought Rubio to the Cavs, the Olympian didn’t seem all that keen on joining Cleveland. It turns out, he enjoyed a career resurgence before the injury. Teaming with former T-Wolves teammate Kevin Love, the two excelled, especially playing against other teams’ second-unit.

The Cavs don’t really have a lot money to offer in free agency, so Rubio is probably looking a the mid-level exception. It stands to reason this would be enough to sign him for the season, as teams  seem unlikely to hand out to a bunch of money to an older player coming off a knee injury who might not be ready to play until January.

If a deal isn’t made with Rubio, Hoopswire’s Sam Amico listed free agents Delon Wright, Austin Rivers, Gary Payton II, Tyus Jones, Elfrid Payton, Raul Neto and Goran Dragics as other point guards on Cleveland’s radar.