If not Ricky Rubio then Elfrid Payton could fit the Cleveland Cavaliers nicely

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have another option if not Ricky Rubio.

The fans, players and media alike are all trying to will the return of Ricky Rubio to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, he’s coming off his second torn ACL but his ability to play make and create for the Cavs last season was nothing less than inspired. Yet, there’s a chance he doesn’t return to Cleveland and there’s a chance that if he does return, he won’t be what he was.

So in that instance, the Cavs should be looking at other options, enter Elfrid Payton.

Now let’s be clear, we’re not talking about Payton getting 25-28 minutes per game. In the event Rubio doesn’t come in, the onus should be on Collin Sexton to replace Rubio’s role, trading Caris LeVert for a starting two, or keeping him to play next to Darius Garland. That doesn’t mean you won’t need another guard.

That’s where Payton has value for this club. He’s not a good offensive player by any means but he knows how to play defense.

Elfrid Payton isn’t the ideal prom date but he is a solid consolation prize

Again, it should be stated that Payton isn’t replacing Rubio’s role, he’s just adding depth. He can provide 15 minutes of solid defense per game, running alongside Sexton, Kevin Love, Cedi Osman (if he’s still here), and the other guys off the bench. If he’s sharing the court with Sexton, then you don’t need Payton to do much more than pass and guard, and if he can’t do those two things, he shouldn’t be in the NBA at all.

Evan Dummervill agrees that Payton could be in play but he also sees Raul Neto and Avery Bradley as options too. The only issue with that is Bradley is a bad defensive option and isn’t a playmaker, so he brings less to the table than Payton. Though he does have a much better three-point shot than Payton, so there’s that.

Neto on the other hand can’t seem to stay healthy and isn’t the best defensive option historically, and his shooting is on par with Payton’s. That said, Payton’s a bigger body, and with the Cavs having two small guards in Sexton and Garland, having Payton’s 6’4 frame that weighs closer to 200lbs isn’t the worst thing in the world.