NBA Rumors: Ex-Top Pick Returning To Cavs Could Make Sense Next Season

KEY POINTS

Ricky Rubio returning to the Cavaliers seems to be a possible option
Rubio had his best performance with Cleveland last season before suffering an ACL injury
Interest in Rubio for next season remains unknown

Ricky Rubio appeared to have found his groove before he saw his 2021-22 season fall apart due to an injury.

The 31-year-old suffered a season-ending ACL injury and was subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers this past February.

Moving forward, it remains unknown what lies ahead for the Spanish guard.

Given that Rubio has had his share of injuries since entering the league in 2009, the chances of him returning next NBA season do not look promising.

Depending on his recovery, the best to expect is to see him being taken in as a backup guard as he works his way back to playing form.

But given the fact that Rubio proved that he could still be a huge factor, a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers could make sense.

He could pick up from where he left off although there are factors to consider, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com noted.

Should the Cavs pursue Rubio, it would be under two scenarios. One is signing the Spaniard to a long-term but light deal. The other would be to offer him a one-year deal but on a handsome payday.

However, another point worth considering is that the Cavs are over the cap and the only logical way to re-sign Rubio would be on a mid-level exception.

With the Spanish guard not expected to return until November, this appears to be the plausible scenario for the next NBA season.

In the 34 games he played for the Cavaliers, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 28.5 minutes of action.

He played well alongside anyone on the roster, including Cedi Osman and Darius Garland among others.

But questions are in the air on how Rubio can perform with his latest injury.

Other than the Cavs, there is no telling which other teams would take a chance on Rubio. H

e is unlikely to be offered a huge salary because of his injury even if he performed well compared to his previous stints with teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns.

There is no doubt that based on his career numbers, his last stint with the Cavaliers was the best he has had so far.