Cavs: Is Ricky Rubio the league’s best backup point guard?

Cavs: Evaluating the backup PGs – Best Backups

Now we come to the top tier, those players who not only steady the ship or hint at something more to come, but who make their teams consistently better and could be low-end starters in the league on a different team.

Let’s lay them out in three mini-tiers. First, those guys in this group that are a little behind Rubio, even after his shaky season last year. Alex Caruso and Patrick Beverley are rugged defenders, with both developing good off-ball games alongside playmaking wings during their careers. Cameron Payne revived his career and was a really good play for the Phoenix Suns last season.

Secondly, there is where Ricky Rubio should slot in. He could be the best backup point guard out there this season, but last year was concerning enough to hold him a step back from those players who can generate high-level offense through scoring and passing still.

Those two players are a pair of former Cleveland Cavaliers, Jordan Clarkson and Derrick Rose. The one with the greater career accolades, Rose can still get his shot off against anyone and has developed into a much more efficient outside shooter than early in his career. On the other hand Clarkson has refined his game as a microwave scorer and found a home in Utah, where he is somewhat protected by other passers and defenders and allowed to just go out there and shoot.

Rubio brings a good balance of everyone in this tier, shaky shooting and decent scoring and good defense and great passing. He can’t claim the title as the best backup point guard in the league right now, or another team would likely have brought him in to start. For now he will provide the Cavs with the best backup point guard they have had in a long time.