Cavs: Ricky Rubio has exceeded expectations thus far

I get that in the offseason, it might’ve been considered to be just a footnote to many when the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Ricky Rubio via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rubio has bounced around via trade in recent seasons, and it’s true that Rubio will be an expiring player after this season; it’s not as if the Cavaliers were the original reason Rubio is set to make $17.8 million in 2021-22, either. He recently turned 31 the Sunday before last, and is far from the youngest player, also.

What is also true, though, is that Rubio’s proving to be a quite the offseason acquisition and I do understand why the Phoenix Suns signed him to a lucrative deal a few years back. He’s had 12.9 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per outing to begin this 2021-22 campaign for Cleveland, with most of his appearances coming off the bench.

Rubio’s two starts came when Darius Garland was inactive because of a left ankle sprain, for context. Generally speaking, it’s still apparent that Rubio will likely be coming off the bench, barring injury to either Garland or Collin Sexton, both of whom are the normal starters in the backcourt.

That said, it’s evident that Rubio will receive starting minutes, anyway, as was reportedly likely to be the case it seemed heading into the season. And for his veteran presence, heady defensive feel, and with him starting the year shooting better than one would’ve anticipated, I can understand that from Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Now, it hasn’t occurred much, but Cleveland should not be playing Garland, Sexton and Rubio together at all realistically, as that’s not usually the smartest move in stretches of games.

In any case, overall, Rubio has proven to be a quality addition, and at least from my perspective, to this point, he’s exceeded expectations.

Cavs: Rubio has exceeded expectations thus far.

To get this out there, despite him starting out slow from three at only 24.2 percent, Sexton should be fine, should the looks continue to come, and I’d think they will, and Rubio at times being more involved for stretches scoring-wise than Sexton has been odd. But in fairness, the chemistry between Rubio and Sexton seems to be getting better, and Collin’s feel off-ball as a cutter has gotten better and better, so that’s a positive, too.

Anyway, circling back to Rubio, though, he’s done a rock solid job overall, of which we’ll hit on the offensive end first.