The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a solid season so far, given the unfortunate circumstances they’ve faced. Despite injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, Cleveland has been able to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. Some players have stepped up to help Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. That said, it’s time to catch up on some news for the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers News: Rubio Retires and Mitchell Gets All-Star Love
To begin, point guard Ricky Rubio has retired from the NBA after a 12-year career to focus on his mental health. He has not suited up for Cleveland this season, as he was not ready to play. Before Rubio retired, the Cavaliers bought out his contract so the team could fill his spot. Rubio made a statement on X to give some information on his retirement and his mental state:
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 4, 2024
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that if Rubio continues his professional basketball career, it will likely be in Spain. He played the last two seasons for the Cavaliers and averaged 9.2 points and 5.1 assists per game. Before his buyout, Rubio had a little over $12 million left on his current deal.
Donovan Mitchell Gets Some All-Star Love
Mitchell is in the midst of another excellent season for the Cavaliers, which should send him to the All-Star Game. He is averaging 27.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. While Cleveland has had some unfortunate injury luck so far this season, Mitchell has been the best player for the team. In fact, NBA fans are seeing what Mitchell is doing and are looking forward to making him an All-Star.
The NBA announced recently the first fan returns for the All-Star voting, and Mitchell is in good shape:
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead their respective conferences in the first fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each.
Next fan update: 1/11. pic.twitter.com/KbFeBRTsnF
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 4, 2024
In the returns, Mitchell received the fourth-most votes among Eastern Conference guards (624,819), putting him in a good position. Mitchell received fewer votes than Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young, all elite NBA guards this season. The Cavaliers are just 20-15 heading into Sunday’s games, which could be a detriment to Mitchell’s candidacy. However, the fans seem to be looking past Cleveland’s uninspiring record, given their current circumstances.
Should Jarrett Allen Be An All-Star?
While Allen is not in the top 10 of voting for Eastern Conference frontcourt players, you can argue that he should be. So far, HE is averaging 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 67.3% from the field. His road to being an All-Star will be harder due to the amount of talented frontcourt players in the East. But that doesn’t change the fact that Allen is playing at a near All-Star level.
The Last Word
The Cavaliers have dealt with some unfortunate injuries this season, and now, they won’t be getting back Rubio. However, everyone wishes the best for Rubio in his journey to address his mental health and be with his family. Despite the injuries, Mitchell has been balling out and is getting the appropriate All-Star love. Time will tell if Allen will get similar levels of love.
