Desperate for both help in the backcourt, and a roster spot, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ricky Rubio have begun discussing a potential parting of ways, according to league sources.
Rubio, 33, has been on permitted leave in Spain from the team since the summer as he manages his mental health and there are serious doubts about whether he ever plays again, league sources said. At minimum, Rubio is not expected back this season. Meanwhile, the Cavs are dealing with the extended absences of starting point guard Darius Garland (fractured jaw) for more than a month, and forward Evan Mobley (knee surgery) for possibly two months
Rubio is making $6.1 million this season and his contract for next year is guaranteed at $4.25 million. The Cavs and Rubio’s representatives could negotiate a buyout of a substantial portion of the contract. They could also waive him and “stretch” the payments of his remaining salary over a longer period, or, perhaps, include his contract in a trade.
Cleveland’s front office wants to do right by Rubio, whom the organization still considers a major piece of the team’s resurgence during the 2021-22 campaign, when the Cavs went from the worst team in the NBA over the previous three years to a Play-In team.
The Cavs signed Rubio to a three-year, $18.5 million deal in the summer of 2022, while he was nursing a torn ACL suffered in January of the prior season (which ultimately led to Cleveland’s slide from a top team in the East record-wise toward the bottom of the postseason bracket).
Rubio averaged 5.2 points in 33 games last season, but just prior to the start of the FIBA World Cup, in which he was supposed to play for Spain, Rubio stepped back from both his national team and the Cavs for his mental health. He is not believed to be engaging in basketball activities to stay sharp, sources said.
In addition to the injuries to Garland and Mobley, star guard Donovan Mitchell banged his shoulder into the stanchion in overtime of the Cavs’ win Monday over the Houston Rockets. He remained in the game but didn’t lift his arm above his shoulder; at minimum a reminder of how tenuous Cleveland’s backcourt situation is at present. Mitchell did not participate in shootaround Wednesday morning because of an illness and is questionable to play against the Utah Jazz.
Guard Ty Jerome has been out since October with a high ankle sprain and remains sidelined, though he has resumed basketball activities.
The Cavs, riding a modest two-game winning streak, host the Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans on consecutive nights.
