Though we're in the dog days of the NBA offseason, there are still plenty of rumors around the league, including a possible Celtics signing.
We're into August, typically the quiet part of the NBA offseason. But with the FIBA World Cup taking place this summer, we do have some news and rumors to get to across the league.
We'll start off with Ricky Rubio's break from basketball, for now just impacting his status on the Spain team.
Ricky Rubio takes mental health break
Ricky Rubio surprisingly won't be taking part in the 2023 World Cup for the Spanish team, opting to take time off to care for his mental health.
Translated by Google, here's what Rubio said in a statement:
"I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health. I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB to understand my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you. I would ask that my privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time is right."
It's unclear how long Rubio expects this mental health break to last. He is under contract in the NBA for this season and next with the Cavaliers and has dealt with limited appearances the last few seasons due to an ACL tear.
The NBA regular season tips off in October, but training camps are starting up in the second half of September.
Cade Cunningham goes beast mode in Olympic scrimmage
The Select Team is a selection of younger and "lower-tier" US Olympic athletes that helps the A-team prepare. In the two scrimmages on Friday, the B-team won both.
And in those games, Cade Cunningham was the leader and dominant man for the underdog team that pulled off two important victories.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr downplayed any drama that might come from the Select Team taking down the senior squad, saying that the challenge was necessary and exactly why the team goes up against the Select Team squad in the first place.
Cunningham's performance was likened to that of Luka Doncic, and may give him the confidence to bring back to the Pistons in 2023-24. USA intentionally put him in that role to simulate what the squad might be up against when they face Slovenia. But it might also give the Pistons hints at how they can best employ Cunningham:
"On Friday, Cunningham didn't look like he'd missed a day on the court. Playing a role like the one Luka Doncic will for Slovenia, Cunningham did an admirable job performing like the Dallas Mavericks star beyond being roughly the same size. Kerr said he worked on the role with Select Team coach Jamahl Mosley in order to help the national team prepare for a potential matchup against Doncic in the World Cup."
Cunningham's NBA career has been frustratingly limited by injuries, playing just 12 games in 2022-23 before ending his season due to a stress fracture in his leg.
While Cunningham told the media he feels great, Kerr also added that Cunningham looks healthy:
"Cade looked great," Kerr said. "The injury is clearly behind him. It's just great to see him healthy, and he's a guy who can really control a game from that point guard spot with his size and physicality, and it's good to see him looking so healthy."
For NBA and in particular Pistons fans, this is great news to hear as they look for the first-overall pick in 2021 to get his career on the move in Detroit.
Team USA is clearly well-prepped for the FIBA World Cup, having gone up against one of the best young talents in the world in Cunningham. We'll see exactly how well that prep holds up if the team ends up facing Slovenia and Doncic.
Celtics still thought to be in play for Blake Griffin
Discussing potential late-offseason possibilities for the Celtics to add in free agency, Bobby Manning hinted at a Blake Griffin return to the Shamrocks for CLNS Media:
"My mind then goes to Blake Griffin. I've heard the door remains opens for his return despite the distance from family and his home on the west coast. Given that he mulled his options until October last year, it's worth assuming he'll follow a similarly deliberative process this summer, and his veteran status allows the team to sign him for a second-year salary on the cap sheet — $2-million this year — actually less than Champagnie would've made. Any other veteran with over 10 years of NBA experience would qualify for the same cap discount."
The discussion comes after the Celtics waived Justin Champagnie, giving them the space on the bench for one more standard NBA contract to add.
Griffin, who played for the Celtics last season, remains a free agent after spending the last few years bouncing around the NBA. He's gone from the Pistons to the Nets to the Celtics.
Coming up on 800 games played, Griffin is, at this stage, a rotation add at best that brings a breadth of veteran wisdom to upgrade the overall intelligence and maturity of any team's locker room. Last season he averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 13.9 minutes.
Though he wasn't a volume scorer, he was efficient, with the best eFG% year of his career, 57.3%.
