The Cavaliers are confident about keeping Collin Sexton, but he’ll have multiple suitors when he hits restricted free agency next month, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Although the Cavs can match any offer that Sexton receives, there may be a point where he becomes too expensive. Multiple sources tell Fedor that Sexton and his representatives are asking for “starting guard money” in a new contract, which would begin at around $20MM per season.
Fedor adds that Sexton and the team discussed a rookie scale extension last summer that wasn’t quite that high, but they couldn’t reach an agreement before the deadline. With Rich Paul of Klutch Sports now representing Sexton and several teams reportedly interested in signing him, this year’s negotiations will have a new starting point, according to Fedor.
Sexton has been a starting guard for virtually his entire time in the NBA, but he played just 11 games this season before having knee surgery. Cleveland became a surprise contender in the East before fading amid late-season injuries, and it’s not clear what Sexton’s role will look like if he does return.
Sources tell Fedor there will be plenty of interest in Sexton once he hits the open market, with the Pistons and Pacers considered to be the top threats. Both teams can pair him with taller guards and won’t have to rely on him as their primary playmaker. A member of the Cavs’ front office speculated to Fedor that Detroit may make Sexton its top offseason priority, particularly if Jalen Brunson remains in Dallas.
The Pistons and Pacers are two of the five teams with enough cap space to extend a significant offer to Sexton, and Fedor hears the Spurs may be interested as well. The others, the Trail Blazers and Magic, aren’t expected to pursue Sexton, but Fedor states that the Wizards may have interest in a sign-and-trade.
Every summer Knicks want everybody via SNT
Knicks want Cavs to pick two players for Sexton
Walker
Burks
Rose
Noel
Knicks and Lakers future first round picks are not available
After dumping Westbrook salary, Lakers should pursue Sexton
With what? The picks they don’t have?
Pistons or Spurs.
I think Sexton has heaps of defensive potential to unlock which hasn’t cause he’s been not utilised correctly in Cleveland. At Detroit he would be played as a SG and get a good amount of touches as Cade is good either on or off the ball and defensively because Cade is big he would be able to go up against other teams point guards. That would be the perfect situation for him and having a good head coach in Dwayne Casey.
The alternative the Spurs, also have a great head coach and good all round coaching staff that develops players well. Again offensively he would be at SG and get a decent amount of touches, and defensively Murray is great and would take the oppositions best guard which makes his life easier. I just think he’d get more touches in Detroit and they are more likely to offer the good money but San Antonio would be a great landing spot for him.
I can see him developing into a solid 20+ points-5-5 type guard with Dennis Schroder type defence
Not a Sexton fan. But anyone who put up 20 in this league deserves a good look. To me he’s a scoring PG. Not a good pairing with Garland imo. So I’m Cavs I move him.
Agreed (again?). I view him as a player without a position, however he’d be a great 6th man aka Lou Williams. Not a true PG (and not the ideal size for SG), but can fill in. Instant offense off the bench player who can change the pace.
As for his asking price, I’d slot him in somewhere between $15-20M per, with someone overpaying at the $20M level.
Unfortunately he isn’t taking that. All players know only starters get paid. And the more offense the more money. That’s what most of them chase. I’m not overpaying him. That’s why I move him now. Garland has shown up. He is more a true PG. And works well with their bigs. They can get value for Sexton. Only makes Cavs better.
They can hypothetically get value for him. But San Antonio could come in with a 4/85M offer and then they either have to match or hope they can work out a S/T, and at that point SA has all the leverage
All I’m saying the best move is to move him. Probably have to be a SnT. Cavs not going to let him walk. He’s a RFA so Cavs can hold on to him after matching offer.
Cavs had a great yr. And are still a young team. Moving Sexton and even Love. Can move this team to top level of East. And they would be youngest team of all. That’s worth shooting for imo.
If he’s going to want 20m+ I tend to agree – they probably want to start harvesting potential sign and trades now. Good news for CLE is at least some teams (seem to) have interest
@Knicker
Love is in the last year of his deal and just had a great season where he not only showed he can still contribute at a high level but can also bring some veteran leadership to the team. Why would they trade him now, for who and since when is being the youngest team in the nba a good thing if you’re trying to win? Being young isn’t a bad thing but most real contenders have a balanced roster with veteran leadership.
Try the glass is half full sometime lol. Being the youngest contender. I guess you missed that part. That’s when it’s a good thing to be Young and Contend. Means you will get better. What’s better than CONTENDING. Winning lol. Winning and contending for a long time.
Warriors, Bulls, young teams built thru draft. Who contended for yrs.
Celtics are actually starting theirs right now. Time will tell about them.
He’s not Pop’s kind of player and they’ve already got a much better scoring guard. No way Spurs pursue him.
what’s the difference between him and Lillard, CJ, Irving, VanFleet, etc?
Is this a serious question?
That’s what I was thinking lol.
im being serious. ok obviously Irving is much better with his scoring aptitude and handles. Dame has the heroics although in his brief career, Sexton has had big showings too. but compare Sexton the SG in 20-21 to noise other guards and his numbers are comparable, at least offensively and most of those guards are not defensive minded players either.
48/37/82 with 24 ppg, 4.4 assists and 1 streak of. As a 22 yo who’s had 4 different head coaches in 4 years and was in the bad position of being the rookie 1st round pick sanz LBJ when the coaches told Lue and the vets they were going to compete but then clearly went into rebuild mode after the 1st month. All that resentment from the holdover LBJ teammates wasn’t a good start for him dealing with salty and entitled role players like Thompson, JR, and even Love.
Talent
@Knicks
It’s no longer an issue of him being a PG or SG. Garland is running the point and Sexton is the SG who in a pinch (Garland injury) can facilitate the offense. He’s always done what was asked of him. Prior to Garland being drafted he was asked to score. To his credit, he’s improved his average assist per game from 3 to 3 to 4.4 per game. He’s had 4 different coaches in 4 years. Give the kid a chance. there’s a ridiculous notion that the Cavs can do without him. Ummmm… other than Garland who can create their own shot and just get a bucket? What FA who can score 20+ on 45/38/83 can we attract to Cleveland? Forget “value “. Cavs drafted a star. They knew what kind of guard he was when they drafted him. he’s the kid that took on 4 vs 1 and singlehandly almost won. Garland has chronic back issues. It would be stupid to trade Sexton when the guard position needs solidification.
Yeah cause he is going to sit behind Garland. So you will pay max money for a disgruntled backup PG. Make sense lol. You like Sexton fine. Then trade away Garland. Both will never play together again. I can assure you that. This new NBA is all about size. You can’t have two six foot guards on court at same time. Like I said. Trading him makes Cavs better.
The only star Cavs have in the backcourt is Garland so get over your infatuation lol.
20m/yr is a max now?
There are definitely difficulties with a SexLand backcourt, but CLE also might have the best defensive frontcourt in the league. If I was Altman I’d be intrigued to at least take a look at what a SexLand + Mobley/Allen pairing looked like?
@Knick
He’s the starting SG. Why would he need to sit behind Garland. And hello, while the two area on the smallish size they are starting 3 7ft guys, 2 of which are above average rim protectors. As long as they can stay in front of their guys in the perimeter then that can be minimized. Defense is an issue but if a guy can give me 24 ppg on efficient 45+/37+/80+ and 4 assists and can create on his own then I’ll take that and figure out the rest.
He is easily their best scorer. He is easily the best “go get me a bucket guy” on the team and with Garland having chronic back issues and himself being on the smallish size who do we have to protect against a prolonged injury?
You know how many FA the Cavs have lured to Cleveland that have averaged 20ppg or better? None. You know how many 20 ppg player they have drafted? 3. LBJ, Irving, Garland and Sexton. This team is NOT overflowing with talent. People are acting as if he’s superfluous and he’s not. Give me as much scoring ability as possible because that’s what this league is about. Scoring. We have Allen and Mobley to protect the rim. This can be figured out.
And if we’re not getting back an allstar caliber big guard or SF (though we already have Markkanen and Okoro) them I don’t want pieces, role players or draft picks not in the top 5 to 8 slots.
Cleveland can’t afford to give away talent. This season was great but let’s not kid ourselves. If Garland isn’t in the lineup they’re aren’t really any other guys than can go coast to coast or create their own shot when needed and those guys are not screaming to come to Cleveland. I drool at the thought of two speedy guards than can go from 1 side of the floor to the other in 4 seconds and either create their own shot or dish off or lob to Okoro, Mobley, Allen or a lagging Markkanen or Love who can hit the open 3 in transition. They can really have an excellent offense. They can figure things out defensively building on Allen and Mobley.
Cavs should go all in on a trade for Beal if Washington is open too it. Sexton, LeVert, a top 8 protected 1st and a 1st swap seems like a reasonable deal for both sides
Washington hangs up.
@Washington @padam
Beal….. soon to be 29… Has an option for $38 mil. Want’s an extension which likely will be in excess of $35 mil per.
Last year….45%/30%/83%. Hasn’t played 60+ games since 2018-19.
Sexton in 20-21…47%/37%/82% … is it because he lacks an allstar credential?
You can get the same production from Sexton for 2/3 what Beal would command and he’s 6 years younger. Beal is only 6’4 and he’s not known for his defense. Why in THE WORLD would the Cavs trade Sexton straight up, let alone include Levert and 1st round picks?
They probably do. But Beals trade value will likely drop off a cliff soon, Washington should trade him.
Sexton (sign and trade), LeVert, Jarrett Allen and a protected first for Bradley Beal and KCP.
Wizards
1. Sexton. Smith
2. LeVert. Kispert
3. Kuzma. Avidja
4. KP. Hachimura
5. Allen. Gafford
Cavs
1. Garland. Rondo
2. Beal. KCP
3. Okoro. Osman
4. Markeneen. KLove
5. Mobley
Cavs hang up.
Cavs not only hang up but put the GMs number on their do not call list.
Intriguing – depends how high you are on Beal. Giving up Allen is big. This team’s identity was defense when it was at its best
But if you think a Garland-Beal-Mobley trio can get you over the hump then maybe? Beal has about a decade on Mobley but Mobley seems like a player who’ll develop quickly so maybe it works
Smoke screen. Why would Pistons pay him 20 mill when they can draft Ivey, Mathurin, Sharpe, all of whom will be better than him after 2 seasons.
Because all of those players you named have different skill sets than Sexton. You do understand that you fill a roster out with different types of players, right?
What are you talking about? Lol
Cavs aren’t letting Sexton go! At the end of the season we needed a person who could go out there and just get buckets. We thought LeVert might help in that department but he didn’t. Why would we get rid of a person who does exactly that? Collin is just what the Cavs need and anyone that doesn’t believe that doesn’t know the Cavs.
@GoCavs
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap).
Mobley can create his own shot in a halfcourt offense. No one else can other than Garland. Expecting him to do it all is ridiculous AND how many times was he dnp because of his back and you cringed hoping it wasn’t going to be more than a game or two? It’s the same injury (I think) that caused him to miss most of his year at Vanderbilt. If this team wants to really compete then they need a Sexton or some other SG/ wing with the ability to score as much as Sexton with similar efficiency at all 3 levels. If not, then why bother?
I could see San Antonio making an offer – they have no reasonable way to upgrade the roster and Sexton actually makes some sense next to a guard like Murray.
A lot is in flux over there w/ Pop’s pending retirement so who knows what the ecosystem looks like long-term, and the West is exceedingly tough. But San Antonio has a track record of taking ugly ducklings and getting the best out of them.
Detroit may have interest, but I think it’s too early on Cade’s timetable to make a high risk investment in a player like Sexton.
Sexton is a RFA. No topic receives more meaningless press than the possible targeting of high-end RFAs. I assume it’s because there haven’t been enough high-end UFAs to write about in recent years. Year after year, no market develops. For it, you’d need teams that are willing to pay a guy more than his current team (i.e., the team that knows him best) will, and then give that team real assets for the privilege; who is that? Ayton has been talked about in this vein but I’m still not 100% convinced. Sexton, I can’t imagine it.
Except he is a prime candidate for a trade. So it would have to be a SnT. I see it as very possible. Cavs are a good team. They don’t need distractions moving forward. Imo the sooner they move him the better. They are primed to make the next step up. Plus the East is no joke. It’s much better much deeper. So it makes ton of sense to move a talent that is not going to mesh with your team. And will your team better.
@Knicks
other than your opinion, you’ve yet to articulate how trading Sexton makes the Cavs better. We have yet seen how Sexton might mesh with a more developed Garland with the 3 bigs in Markkanen, Allen and Mobley.
Prime candidate from CLE’s standpoint, perhaps. But only if they can get real value for him. I don’t think CLE sees it as an “addition by subtraction” situation where they’d sell him for scraps (like happened with Lonzo Ball). I’m saying I don’t think CLE will get real value in the S&T market. It’s not a good market for a RFA’s existing team. Most teams in CLE’s situation opt to sign the player and hope it works out well enough where he can, at worst, maintain his salary slot until he can be marketed in a more friendly trade market.