By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Indiana Pacers acquired Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio via trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, both teams announced Tuesday confirming Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN breaking the deal Monday.
Rubio, 31, sidelined for the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, was in the trade sending Caris LeVert from the Pacers to the Cavaliers along with a 2022 second-round draft pick via the Miami Heat. The Cavs additionally sent a lottery-protected first-round selection and a second-round pick via the Houston Rockets of the next draft plus a 2027 second-round pick via the Utah Jazz.
A potential deal between the Pacers and Cavaliers involving LeVert and Rubio recently surfaced in trade rumors ahead of next Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline.
The Spanish international will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. He had penned a three-year, $51 million contract with the Phoenix Suns back in 2019. In trades since, he returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2020-21 season and moved to the Cavs before the 2021-22 season. The trade total through his 11-year NBA career now amounts to four, including the Timberwolves packaging him to the Utah Jazz during the 2017 offseason.
Besides picking up his expiring contract, the Pacers remain in trade talks involving Lithuanian big man Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, as widely reported in recent weeks and noted by Wojnarowski.
LeVert, 27, born in Columbus, will be making his way back to hometown Ohio, after splitting 308 NBA games played between the Pacers and Brooklyn Nets.
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