Ricky Rubio returning to Cleveland

Adrian Wojnarowski: Free agent guard Ricky Rubio is nearing a deal on a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Tony East @TEastNBA
Cavs agree to a deal with ex-Pacers guard Ricky Rubio, per ESPN + Yahoo. It’s a 3-year, $18.4m deal, Yahoo says. CLE & IND could make it a sign-and-trade with Dylan Windler or Cedi Osman if CLE want to keep its MLE, but no incentive for Cavs to do that without strong MLE option. – 9:51 AM

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Sources: Cleveland Cavaliers and free agent guard Ricky Rubio have agreed to a 3-year, $18.4 million deal with a partial guarantee in the third year of the deal, @Jorge Sierra has learned. Rubio was a key veteran rotation player for Cleveland and mentor to All-Star Darius Garland. – 9:51 AM

Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrusso
Sources confirm to @TheAthletic that #cavs and and Ricky Rubio have agreed to a three-year deal. – 9:45 AM

J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
if you don’t like ricky rubio you are beyond my skill to heal – 9:45 AM

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Yahoo Sources: Ricky Rubio and Cleveland come to terms on a three-year, $18.4 deal. sports.yahoo.com/ricky-rubio-nb… – 9:45 AM

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs are giving Ricky Rubio a three-year deal worth $18.4 million, including a partial guarantee in the final year, sources tell @clevelanddotcom – 9:44 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Cavs record with Ricky Rubio last season: 20-14
Cavs record without Ricky Rubio last season: 24-24 pic.twitter.com/h414YbrxgF – 9:44 AM

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs and Ricky Rubio have agreed to a three-year deal, sources tell @clevelanddotcom – 9:42 AM

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Free agent guard Ricky Rubio is nearing a deal on a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. – 9:39 AM

Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
So who’s left that can meaningfully move a needle?
– Ayton
– LaVine
– Bridges
– Sexton
– Nurkic
– Warren
– DDV
– Looney
– Rubio (injured)
– Lamb
– Ibaka
– Thomas Bryant
– Bruce Brown
– Harrell
– Jalen Smith
– Sato (probably Barca bound)
– The Martins
– …Otto? – 8:46 PM

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Best FAs still on the board:
PGs
G. Payton II
R. Rubio
D. Wright
F. Jackson
SGs
J. Haden
Z. LaVine
C. Sexton
G. Harris
SFs
M. Bridges
TJ Warren
Caleb Martin
Cody Martin
PFs
K. Anderson
O. Porter Jr.
M. Harrell
C. Anthony
Cs
D. Ayton
J. Nurkic
K. Looney
N. Claxton – 7:12 PM

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
What are the #Pacers‘ options with free agents T.J. Warren, Jalen Smith and Ricky Rubio? indystar.com/story/sports/n… via @indystar – 5:20 PM

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
I detailed the #Pacers’ options for free agents T.J. Warren, Jalen Smith and Ricky Rubio. indystar.com/story/sports/n… – 10:52 AM

More on this storyline

 

Chris Haynes: Free agent guard Ricky Rubio has reached an agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year, $18.4 million deal, league sources tell @YahooSports. -via Twitter @ChrisBHaynes / July 1, 2022

One member of the organization said the Cavs had chances to move into the late first round if they desired, but any player selected there comes with a guaranteed contract. The Cavs are very much interested in bringing back Ricky Rubio, whose expiring contract was used as matching salary in the LeVert trade. If they do, it would give them 14 guaranteed contracts. They didn’t want to add any others at this stage. Rubio certainly won’t be ready for the start of the season as he continues rehabbing from a second ACL surgery, and likely wouldn’t be available until January. If the Cavs elect to bring him back, they’ll likely have to try and make do with LeVert and/or Collin Sexton sharing the backup point guard duties until Rubio is ready. It’s hardly ideal, but it illustrates how much this team still values Rubio. -via The Athletic / June 27, 2022

And that, of course, is also assuming Sexton is still on this team next season. Sexton is a restricted free agent this summer. It’s worth noting the Cavs could also sign a veteran point guard to a league minimum deal with the understanding he could be gone when Rubio is ready in January. Navigating deals for Sexton and Rubio this summer will be complicated, particularly since the Cavs ideally would like to stay out of the luxury tax for one more year. -via The Athletic / June 27, 2022