By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The earliest major injury blow for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season, Ricky Rubio was traded to the Indiana Pacers but can potentially make his way back to Ohio as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, notes Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Rubio, 31, was sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a torn left ACL in December. A couple of months later, his expiring contract was shifted to the Pacers along with three draft picks for Caris LeVert and a draft selection.
Expected to remain out of action for an early chunk of the next season will affect his status as a free agent. The Cavs, with fellow Spanish Jose Calderon serving as a special advisor to the front office since January, are likely to be among the teams considering his addition assuming he would accept a one-year, prove-it deal. Besides the NBA, Rubio himself recently previewed a potential return to Europe.
Before getting hurt, the crafty playmaker logged 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest over 34 appearances. He was a key part of the impressive start to the Regular Season for the team coached by J. B. Bickerstaff. With four fixtures remaining in the Regular Season schedule and other key players since forced to the injury list, the Cavaliers have dropped out of the top six seeds of the Eastern Conference and distanced a couple of wins away from a direct berth in the Playoffs.
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