Title: Cleveland Cavaliers in Talks for Potential Departure of Ricky Rubio Amid Health Concerns
The Cleveland Cavaliers may be bidding farewell to point guard Ricky Rubio, as discussions about his potential departure intensify, league sources revealed. Rubio, who has been on permitted leave in his home country of Spain since summer, has been prioritizing his mental health, raising doubts about his future return to the court.
This proposal comes at a challenging time for the Cavs, with their starting point guard, Darius Garland, out of action for over a month due to a fractured jaw. Additionally, forward Evan Mobley continues to recover from knee surgery. The absence of these key players has underscored the importance of Rubio’s role in the team’s lineup.
Rubio, who is currently earning $6.1 million this season, holds a guaranteed contract worth $4.25 million for next year. As a potential solution, the Cavaliers have debated negotiating a buyout of his contract or incorporating it into a trade deal. Regardless, the Cavs management still regards Rubio as a crucial contributor to the team’s recent resurgence.
The Spanish guard first joined the Cavaliers in 2022, signing a three-year, $18.5 million contract while recovering from a torn ACL. However, during the last season, Rubio’s performance was hampered, averaging only 5.2 points in 33 games. Since being on leave in Spain, he has refrained from participating in basketball activities, raising concerns about his readiness.
Adding to their challenges, the team’s star guard, Donovan Mitchell, is questionable to play due to illness. Furthermore, guard Ty Jerome has been out with a high ankle sprain since October, but he has recently resumed basketball activities, presenting a glimmer of hope for his return.
Despite these obstacles, the Cavs have shown resilience and are currently enjoying a two-game winning streak. Looking ahead, they are set to face tough matchups against the formidable Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans in their upcoming games.
As negotiations regarding Ricky Rubio’s potential departure unfold, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain focused on their journey to maintain their winning streak and mitigate the impact of their injured and ill players.
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