Grading the Ricky Rubio deal with Cavs from all angles

Grading Ricky Rubio deal with Cavs: Opportunity cost

In signing Ricky Rubio, did the Cavs cost themselves another player they could have taken with the salary slot? That’s a reasonable querstion to ask, but the answer spools out after just a curosry glance at the other options.

The Cavs needed a point guard; perhaps they could have survived by just signing Raul Neto to a veteran’s minimum and adding a forward — say, TJ Warren or Derrick Jones Jr. — but adding a backup point guard was the team’s top priority in free agency.

There were better options than Rubio on the market, but not many. When Tyus Jones re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies and Delon Wright went to the Washington Wizards, that likely left Rubio atop the pile of remaining options. Any team that signed him would have to wait out his recovery, but his level of play at the start of last season outstripped that of any available point guard on the market. Signing Rubio meant the Cavs were getting the best guy, not missing out on him.

The ability to then turn around and sign Raul Neto to a veteran’s minimum deal shored up the only potential downside. If the Cavs had rolled into next season needing to rely on Caris LeVert and Collin Sexton as their backup point guard, that would have been painful. By adding a solid player with strong defensive chops in Neto, the Cavs have a reasonable backup to lean on before Rubio returns.