The Cavs’ Ricky Rubio question: Trade, keep or extend?

The Cavs’ Ricky Rubio question: Keep him

Pros: Finally, the Cleveland Cavaliers could go the middle route, keeping Ricky Rubio at the trade deadline and not signing him to an extension. This keeps a good thing going, letting this young core fight for a playoff spot and giving Rubio an opportunity to be a coach in the locker room through the ups and downs. At the same time, it doesn’t shackle the Cavs to any long-term money, and it protects against the risk of a long-term injury to Rubio.

Few teams will have significant cap space next summer. The Cavs will have Rubio’s Bird Rights, which means they can bring him back at a number above the non-taxpayer mid-level most teams will likely be able to offer Rubio. They get another few months of evaluating Rubio before committing, and they can better see the landscape before making their offer. If they have a chance to spend elsewhere, they can do so and let Rubio walk; they can also move him in a sign-and-trade to another team in exchange for some sort of asset.

Cons: Letting Ricky Rubio reach the summer as an unrestricted free agent means they lose team control over where he next plays. He can sign with any team he likes. The money may not be there, but if Rubio values a starting spot more he can go seek one out. It also only takes one team to make a large offer, like the Suns did to Rubio back in 2019.

Even if the Cavs end up retaining him, they might do so at a more lucrative number than an extension signed now, when they would get a slight discount due to taking on the increased risk of signing early. What if Rubio has an electric end to the season, averaging 16 points and nine assists to help lift the Cavs into their first non-LeBron playoff berth in two decades? That might be a good problem to have, but it would mean a bigger payout for Rubio.