When Ricky Rubio returns, the Cavs could really hit their stride

After their trade to acquire Donovan Mitchell, it’s evident that the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to level up this season, and in years to come.

Mitchell’s one of the elite combo guards in the NBA, and through five seasons, he was a three-time All-Star with the Utah Jazz, and while it did take a haul to bring him in, and it hurt Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen to me, Mitchell is a hell of a player. He’ll add firepower to these still young Cavaliers.

A core four of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is a pretty darn nice young group to have for the Wine and Gold moving forward.

There’s little reason to believe that the Cavs shouldn’t be able to build on their last season, when the group had a resurgent campaign. The Cavaliers won 44 games in 2021-22, before ultimately losing in the play-in tournament to the Brooklyn Nets and then Atlanta Hawks.

But even prior to the Mitchell deal, I thought this group seemed primed for another step forward, and from here, the Cavaliers are undoubtedly a team ready to make noise in the Eastern Conference.

To that point, though, I could definitely see the Cavs getting going at a new level when Ricky Rubio is back this season.

When Rubio’s back in the fold, the Cavs could really hit their stride.

The caveat here is that there’s no setback in Rubio’s recovery. He tore the ACL in his left knee back in late December of last year, and it was the same one he tore in that left knee back in 2012, when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Admittedly, I do have my concerns for him, given that, and Rubio will be entering his 12th season, and in the beginning of the campaign, will be turning 32. It’s understandable for some to have their questions about his outlook. And I’m not going to say that I wasn’t skeptical prior to the team bringing him back this offseason in free agency via three-year, $18.4 million deal, albeit with the third year partially-guaranteed.

That said, Rubio’s best attributes have been craftiness, elite passing abilities, vision/creativity, and defensively, his spacial awareness and 6-foot-9 wingspan all can still make him a crucial player for this upcoming season in that supersub-esque role again. His game is not predicated on athleticism, nor quick twitch separation, so he could very well be a key player, anyhow.

Granted, it’s not a definitive time as to when he’ll back, but it seems as if December/feasibly January would be reasonable, and the Cavs aren’t going to rush him back by any means. Hopefully there continues to be steady progression for him, as there seemingly will be.

There’s going to be some rust for Rubio upon his return, which could be at the midway point of the season, but with how much of a difference-maker he was for Cleveland last season, and with his court sense, passing wizardry and defensive prowess, he could really get this Cavs team rolling.

Now, I’m not saying the Cavaliers by that point won’t have hit their stride more, and Mitchell and Garland/the team should have far better chemistry by then. However, with how Rubio aided Mitchell back when they were teammates in Utah, and with how Rubio helped Garland, among others, such as Mobley, last season pre-injury, he could give Cleveland a significant bench boost again.

Rubio’s on and off-floor leadership has been invaluable for both Mitchell and Garland it seems, along with countless others it appears, and that, coupled with his playmaking and incredible feel could definitely be quite the in-season jolt for the Wine and Gold.

For his career, Rubio’s had 7.6 assists per outing, and last year, he had what tied a career-best 13.1 points per outing, to go with 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28.5 minutes per appearances with Cleveland in 34 games last season.

If he can reestablish his rhythm mid-season, with how he helps others in a sizeable way, feasibly for stretches off the bench, and perhaps in closing time even if needed, he could be a key reason for the Cavs hitting their stride a bit after when he’s back.