In Early August of 2021, the Cleveland Cavaliers (Cavs) brought over veteran point guard Ricky Rubio in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Taurean Prince and a 2022 second-round pick. At the time it seemed, especially due to Rubio’s one-year, $17.8 million contract, that Cleveland would be using Ricky as a mentor to young stud guards Darius Garland and Collin Sexton and then move on in 2022 NBA free agency.
That all changed when Sexton went down for the year with a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery. Instead of a one-year-rental, Cleveland is talking to Rubio about a multi-year extension to keep him with the Cavs–according to Chris Fedor of the Hoops Hype Podcast
“I think there are people inside the organization that have had conversations about the possibility of giving him a contract extension and keeping him beyond this year,” Fedor said. “The way he’s played, he’s shown he can still play at a high level.”
Rubio has stepped up in Sexton’s absence with improved statistical production across the board, but it has been his experience that has helped this team the most. Cleveland is now 19-12 and on a six-game winning streak due in part to Rubio. The flashy guard has appeared in every game so far for the Cavs in 2021 and is averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 36.3 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from three.
Rubio has career averages of 11.1 points per game, 7.6 assists per game (19th all-time), and 1.8 steals per game (34th all-time).
