Cavs: Ricky Rubio-Lauri Markkanen should be a duo to watch

With him seemingly a player that could be moved, with him mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason, it was not that surprising that the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Larry Nance Jr. on Friday.

Nance was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, who dealt Derrick Jones Jr. and a lottery-protected first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls. That was part of a three-team sign-and-trade where Cleveland inked restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen to a four-year, $67 million deal, and Nance was shipped out in the process, and Cleveland sent Chicago a protected second-round pick (via the Denver Nuggets).

Nance was a productive bench piece in recent seasons, particularly in 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns, when he was healthier, by and large. Last season, he still made an impact in a number of ways when healthy, with then mostly in a starting 4 role with Kevin Love often sidelined, but Nance had particularly tough injury luck last season.

And for Cleveland, with him having been one of their key trade pieces and the team needing perimeter shooting, he did appear to be clearly a player that could be moved, which played out. You can view more on reported details from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium here, anyway, via KJG’s Josh Cornelissen.

So what’s the draw with Markkanen? It’s again, the Cavs valuing his shooting. Along those lines, with him, at least currently, seemingly set to be a bench focal point for the Cavaliers, I do believe him and Ricky Rubio, in that sense, could be a duo to watch.

Rubio-Markkanen should be a Cavs duo to watch.

Rubio is not going to be getting starting time, with Darius Garland appearing to be the answer at the starting 1 long term, but Rubio I do believe will get his share of minutes, including some with Garland.

Rubio should mesh well with #3 overall pick Evan Mobley, with Mobley at the 5 some as the season progresses I’d think, along with him at the 4. I’d imagine Rubio and Collin Sexton in some spurts/stretches with Garland off the floor should have a great chemistry too, particularly with how Sexton has demonstrated off-ball growth in the past two seasons.

I could foresee with Markkanen being a knockdown shooter though, that he and Rubio could have a two-man game to watch in spurts as well. I’m not discounting Markkanen in that way with Garland, of course, but at least seemingly for next season, he could end up being one of Rubio’s go-to targets in bench spurts/stretches.

Markkanen had some struggles last season, and has unfortunately had injury troubles in recent seasons. However, when he’s been able to go and has been healthy, he was a key shooter for Chicago, and has shown some movement shooting.

Last season, even with him in an inconsistent role it appeared, with him splitting time between starting and as a bench contributor, Markkanen was a crucial catch-and-shoot player, and knocked in 40.2 percent of his 5.8 three-point attempts per game.

Even at times with his share from especially deep, Markkanen has knocked in 36.6 percent of his 6.1 triple attempts per contest through four seasons, and has had a solid 15.6 points per game so far in the league.

Taking that into account, I could foresee him being the recipient of dishes on the wing from Rubio, particularly out of pick-and-roll operation, and some via pick-and-pop deliveries. In those situations, the 7-footer isn’t fazed as a shooter from shot contests, and with him either with Mobley or Jarrett Allen in stretches, seemingly, their presence could open up some daylight for Rubio to hit the former Bull.

In addition, Markkanen is a legitimate rolling presence himself as well, and feasibly in some minutes at the 5 for him, perhaps a bit with Kevin Love at the 4 and other defensive pieces, I could foresee him receiving some lobs at times from Rubio/Darius Garland.

Plus, while I wouldn’t anticipate it that often necessarily, coming off screens, Markkanen could have success as a driver with Rubio resetting things in mid-clock. Lauri has been able to get baskets that way after generating momentum downhill with the Bulls, and even with it at times being wonky, if the passes are leading him, it’s led to productive looks.

I could see that at times in secondary transition with Rubio leading the way so well in those instances also, and with Markkanen being a true trailing threat, too.

Anyhow, while we’ll have to see if Rubio could potentially stick around/re-sign with the Cavs next offseason, I do firmly believe him and Markkanen could hit it off early on, provided Lauri stays healthy. And next season, they’re a Cavs duo to watch.

Markkanen should still be getting plenty of run, and one would think he’ll get starting minutes, either way.