Cavs: 3 players under the most pressure this season

Cavs: 3 players under the most pressure this season – Ricky Rubio

Once the Cleveland Cavaliers decided that Collin Sexton was not a point guard, they needed to secure a backup point guard to replace franchise stalwart Matthew Dellavedova, who returned home to Australia’s NBL this summer. The decision was whether to bring in a veteran option or add an upside play in the second round or as an undrafted free agent.

Cleveland somewhat surprisingly went for the former, trading Taurean Prince and a second-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves to add Ricky Rubio. The 30-year-old Spaniard will make $17.8 million next season in the final year of his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency next season.

Rubio is coming off the worst season of his career. His shooting and scoring regressed, he was less effective as a passer, and playing on a terrible defensive team in Minnesota he was even less effective as a disruptive defender. Was he simply having a bad season in the midst of a pandemic being shunted from a good team to a bottom feeder? Or has age struck again and started a steep decline for Rubio?

Rubio’s strong play in the Tokyo Olympics provides optimism that he has much left to offer. If he can rebound as the Cavs’ bench floor general, building pick-and-roll chemistry with Lauri Markkanen and perhaps even helping Kevin Love to rebuild his career, then he will be in line to seek a strong contract and potentially a starting role next year. If he cannot, then it’s backup money and a marginalized market come the summer.