Cavs, Potential Partners Continue To Weigh Collin Sexton Trades

Collin Sexton trade talks are expected to pick up as the Cavaliers near the NBA Draft at the end of the month, but should nothing develop then, those talks will undoubtedly intensify when free agency begins Aug. 2.

So far, the Cavs have been active in Sexton talks, but are finding some hesitancy in potential trade partners, sources told Hoops Wire. Opposing teams are well aware of why the Cavs are looking to move the standout guard and leading scorer — and that’s because he is due for a rookie-scale extension.

A lot of Sexton suitors also wonder how he might fight. Regardless of what the Cavs say, opposing teams view him as a one-dimensional player, though they readily admit he does that one dimension (score) very well.

Still, potential trade partners seem to have at least a little concern about how a Sexton trade would be received by players already on the roster, sources said. He is viewed as a hard-worker, and someone with a great approach who always shows up. But he also has a reputation among some opposing players as someone who maybe shoots too much.

Teams also wonder if Sexton is actually a starter, or is better suited for a sparkplug role off the bench — a la Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson or Hawks guard Lou Williams.

That said, plenty of interest remains. Opposing teams linked to Sexton by Hoops Wire sources and several others include the Knicks, Heat, Warriors, Thunder, 76ers, Pelicans, Pacers and Lakers.

More are surely out there and more will surely hop on board by the time the draft rolls around July 29. One source already added the Nuggets as another team expected to closely monitor the Sexton talk.

One thing that has become clear is the Cavs are in no rush to pull the trigger on a Sexton deal. It seems at this point, all they’ve done is make it known he’s available. But they do have plenty of irons in the fire.

Along with evaluating potential Sexton trades, they reportedly would also like to move up to No. 1 in the draft and land Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham. They are also among the teams to have spoken to the 76ers about available star Ben Simmons.

The Cavs aren’t opposed to bringing Sexton back to training camp, sources said. They do love what he has done in a short time with the franchise. Plus, possible partners can often better develop trades once their rosters are in place and they can get a better idea of what they’re still missing.

But interested teams will likely want to deal for Sexton soon, slide him into a role with their organization and pay him accordingly. The Cavs’ issue, some say, is that they have treated Sexton like the top option on a winning team and would therefore have to pay him like one — something they’re not willing to do.

Sexton is coming off another nice season, averaging a career-best 24.3 points to lead Cleveland in scoring. He also shot 48 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers in 60 games. He has missed just 12 games in his three-year career, all in 2020-21.