Nearly a week into free agency, Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton remains without a new contract.
And while there was some reported interest from the Wizards, Knicks and Pistons, all of those teams have since seemingly filled their backcourt needs.
Meanwhile, Sexton is still a free agent, still waiting for an offer for the Cavs to match — or perhaps more likely, just to come to terms with the Cavs.
And right now, it would appear the Cavs have most of the leverage in the negotiations. Along with Suns center Deandre Ayton, Sexton is the most-prized restricted free agent out there.
“He has no market,” an opposing executive told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com of Sexton.
The Cavs are about $15 million below the salary cap. It’s no secret they would like to remain below it after they sign Sexton. But he and agent Rich Paul are seeking a deal that will pay Sexton in the neighborhood of about $20 million annually. By all accounts, that is actually where Sexton’s camp would like to start.
Despite the differences, talks at this point are believed to have been respectful, with no drama. Both sides want to see it work — and presumably, for Sexton to return to the Cavs. But the longer it drags on, and the longer Sexton doesn’t get an offer from a rival team, the more negotiations favor the Cavs.
At least both sides appear to be in agreement on a three-year deal. Along with that, Cavs All-Star guard Darius Garland is said to be rooting for a Sexton return.
There has been some talk of the Mavericks having an interest after losing Jalen Brunson to the Knicks. However, sources told Hoops Wire the Mavs have not reached out to the Cavs, nor Sexton, as Dallas is still weighing its own options.
Sexton appeared in just 11 games last season before being shut down with a torn MCL. At the time of the injury, he was averaging a team-best 16.0 points. That followed a season in which he averaged 24.3 points. The Cavs liked how he took a step back in shot attempts for the good of the team.
Since then, Garland has replaced Sexton as the face of the franchise and the Cavs have traded for Caris LeVert and drafted Ochai Agbaji, and both can play shooting guard, just like Sexton. Isaac Okoro also fills in at the spot.
What’s it all mean?
Well, as Fedor noted, Sexton could always just accept the $7.2 million qualifying offer extended by the Cavs and become an unrestricted free agent next summer — using this next season to pump up his value.
With the way things are going or him, that may be the best bet. But at this rate, it doesn’t appear to be anything that will be decided on soon.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
lol he is playing on the qo 9 out of 10, and not taking much less than he is worth just because the market dried up right now, with so many orgs going the draft route to get guards.One’s that had interest in him or cap space to sign him anyway.
There may be one of them that decides in asset collection mode to issue a offer sheet higher than 13 per anyway still but unlikely.
I think the Cavs would be wise to pay him more than the current market dictates because it is obvious the market will be much much more Sexton favorable and Cavs unfavorable next offseason after he is healthy. No way he signs for what the market is suggesting right now coming off injury , got to pay him based on future just like they did with DG who they could have offered next summer 4/135, or 5/170 and it would be more money than anybody else could offer. Why give him 191 smh