Ricky Rubio has been everything the Cavaliers were seeking in a backup veteran point guard, but he reportedly wasn’t excited about the offseason trade that sent him from Minnesota to Cleveland.
“Without getting too far out over my skis and getting aggregated too much, Ricky Rubio, from what I understand, was not thrilled about being traded to Cleveland,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective Podcast. “And at this point in his career, I don’t really blame him.”
Rubio, 31, is averaging a career-high 14.4 points and 7.8 assists in the first five games. He has indicated he is happy to be a member of the Cavs now that he’s here.
The Cavs (3-2) acquired Rubio in a deal for small forward Taurean Prince and cash consideration.
“It was also like the 14th time he was traded in the last two years,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon added on the podcast.
“He signed thinking he was going to be playing alongside Devin Booker in Phoenix and next thing he knows he is in Cleveland. OK, so it took some convincing to get Rubio sold on that this was the best place for him.
“Whatever they did, they got Rubio focused and he is providing very level-headed competent ball-handling and execution, which considering the last couple of years, they’ve played with very young and sometimes very wild guards. Putting Rubio out there makes a difference.”
Cavs guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland have each offered praise for Rubio.
“Ah man, he’s huge for us,” Sexton told Bally Sports’ Angel Gray. “He’s a leader, he’s the vet that we needed just to come in and give us that spark off the bench. And also just run the show, especially down the stretch when things start getting a little wild.”
Check out more on the Cavs in the latest Cavs on the Break podcast.
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