Cavs’ Collin Sexton Vows, ‘I’ll Be Back And Stronger Than Ever,’ As Free Agency Awaits

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton doesn’t intend to let a little thing like season-ending knee surgery hold him back.

Sexton is in Cleveland, hanging out at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, being near his teammates and others for All-Star Weekend. He is awaiting next year and a presumed return to game action.

“I’m feeling pretty good. Just pretty much taking it day by day … just stay consistent in the grind,” Sexton said, via Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It’s tough when you’re injured, it’s the patience part. Patience is tough because you always want to go out and get back and just go help the team any which way possible.

“I’m excited just to be here for All-Star week and just continue to be around the guys, it brings me energy.”

Sexton went down in November, appearing in just eight games. He led the Cavs in scoring at 16.0 points at the time of the injury. Last year, he led them at 24.1 points per game. There was a time when it seemed he might return for the playoffs, though that has been tempered. It now isn’t expected to be until the start of 2022-23.

But before that, Sexton will be a restricted free agent, and there is a lot that could happen there. Clearly, the Cavs have been good, on the rise, with the likes of All-Stars Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, as well as rookie Evan Mobley and others.

They have also added Caris LeVert, another volume scorer who just happens to play the same position as Sexton. While no one is equating the Cavs’ surge to Sexton’s absence, you’d be kidding yourself if you think it won’t impact what happens in free agency.

That’s not to say the Cavs will look for a sign-and-trade arrangement for Sexton this summer. It just means they could. Much will depend on what happens from here on out.

But again, Sexton is focused on this year’s team, and says he’s not worried about himself at the moment.

“It’s tough, but everything happens for a reason,” Sexton said of his injury. “I’ll be back stronger and back better.”

As for the Cavs (35-23), Sexton indicated that all the success isn’t really a big surprise to him, offering shout-outs to president of basketball operations Koby Altman and coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“You’ve got to think my first year how bad we were and continue to now. Each and every year we keep getting better,” Sexton said. “J.B.’s doing a great job with the team. He’s always been the coach that we needed just to come in and show us the way.

“The plan has definitely worked and Koby has definitely done his thing. Just continue to grow and continue to get better every day.”

What’s next for Sexton remains to be seen. As for the here and now, he seems to be enjoying what’s going on with the Cavs as much as every other member of the organization.