Cavaliers Acquire Point Guard Ricky Rubio From Timberwolves
Aug 3, 2021, 10:14 AM
Damian Lillard #6 of the United States uses a screen by teammate Draymond Green #14 to get away from Ricky Rubio #9 of Spain during an exhibition game at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The United States defeated Spain 83-76. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers filled one of their biggest needs, acquiring veteran point guard Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Cleveland sent forward Taurean Prince, a 2022 second-round draft pick and cash to Minnesota for the 30-year-old Rubio, who has spent 10 years in the NBA.
The teams agreed to the deal last week before the draft, but had to wait for league approval and because Rubio was in Japan at the Olympics. He scored 38 points in a quarterfinal loss to the U.S. on Tuesday.
OFFICIAL: #Cavs acquire @rickyrubio9.
DETAILS: https://t.co/8XaBrDzgLf pic.twitter.com/PPjkIQoPD5
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) August 3, 2021
Rubio’s point total is a Spanish men’s Olympic record, and the most ever scored by a U.S. men’s Olympic opponent, breaking the mark of 35 by Puerto Rico’s Butch Lee in 1976.
The Cavs were desperate to find a dependable backup point guard for Darius Garland. Matthew Dellavedova served in that role last season, but he missed much of the year after a concussion.
Rubio averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 assists last season for Minnesota. He was back with the Timberwolves in 2021 after playing in Phoenix and Utah. He played his first six seasons with the Timberwolves, who took him with the fifth overall pick in 2009.
The Cavs acquired the 6-foot-7 Prince from Brooklyn last season in the three-team deal that sent James Harden to the Nets. Prince averaged 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29 games for Cleveland.
