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I am not sure that your wife will require an SB-1 visa to return to the United States under the circumstances that you describe. It is still a long time until your wife will be one year outside the United States. At that point, she may or may not require an SB-1 visa. I note that the permanent residence card allows trips of up to but not including one year although CBP may give a hard time to someone who is six months or more outside the United States on any one absence. If still within the one year, CBP may be amenable to the excuse of inability to return because of Covid-19 and your condition. Even if a year or more, CBP has discretion to allow a permanent resident to enter the US. In the latter situation, however, you can certainly try to get the SB-1 visa if you think that it can be obtained. Having the visa in hand before attempting reentry would undoubtedly be less nerve-racking to your wife. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.    

Unlike a green card, citizenship does not depend on your maintenance of a residence (domicile) in the U.S. and cannot be lost as a result of a long absence. You should have no problems with returning to the U.S.

It looks his criminal record was big enough to get him deported. It is unlikely that without marrying him you will be able to help him back in. There is no guarantee that even if you do marry him he will be able to return. More information is needed.