The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of a wondrous breakout season, rising from the dregs of the league to sit pretty with the best net rating in the Eastern Conference. Their young core of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and the rookie phenom Evan Mobley has this team set up for success for years to come.
Support for those youngsters has come from a few key veterans, and none more important than Ricky Rubio. The savvy point guard was having one of the best offensive seasons of his career and was a key part of the Cavs’ best lineups. I said “was” because it was announced on Wednesday that Rubio would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
Ricky Rubio is out for the year, and the Cavs need to find a replacement. Who are some trade candidates who would fit into a Disabled Player Exception?
Without Rubio, the Cavs suddenly have to replace one of their top-performing players, a steady hand who boosted every lineup he was in. Rubio averaged 28.5 minutes per game this season and was both a backup point guard to Garland and one of the most-used players at shooting guard. In the short-term the team will have to find options on the roster to fill the gap in the rotation.
Unless Kevin Pangos takes a huge leap forward in a larger role, the Cavs will need to add another ball-handler into the mix. One tool they will have to do so is a Disabled Player Exception, which allows the Cavs to sign, claim or trade for a player in the last season of his contract, up to an amount equal to 50 percent of the disabled player’s salary; in this case, Rubio’s $17 million.
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Cleveland could apply for the DPE now and wait to sign a buyout candidate in a couple of months; Gary Harris or Goran Dragic are among the potential players who could be bought out. Yet it might behoove the Cavs to move sooner, and avoid the uncertainty of the buyout market. Which guards out there could fill the Cavs’ need at backup PG and fit into that Disabled Player Exception?