REPORT: Ricky Rubio, Cleveland Cavaliers Discussing A Parting Of Ways

The 33-year-old veteran point guard has been on an excused absence from Cleveland since early August.

On August 5, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio announced that he would be stepping away from basketball to address his mental health.

He has not been with the team since, and has yet to play in a game this season.

According to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the 33-year-old is in discussions with the Cavaliers about parting ways with the team.

“Desperate for both help in the backcourt, and a roster spot, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ricky Rubio have begun discussing a potential parting of ways, according to league sources,” Charania and Vardon wrote.

Mar 12, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (13) on the bench prior to the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center / © Brian Westerholt-USA TODAY Sports

Rubio last played in Game Four of the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks on April 23.

He was first acquired by the Wine and Gold from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a summer of 2021 trade. Rubio got off to a promising start as Cleveland’s backup point guard, averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in 34 contests.

However, he tore his ACL in late December of 2021, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. Rubio was then traded to the Indiana Pacers the following February, but was signed by the Wine and Gold as a free agent during the summer of 2022.

Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman addressed Rubio’s excused absence during the team’s media day on October 2.

“He’s working to get himself right. We give him that time and that runway to get himself healthy. We support him from afar, and I think the thought process and hope is that he does return to Cleveland and the Cavaliers, and helps us out this season. But we want to give him that time and that space to really get himself right.”