It doesn’t appear as if Collin Sexton is in any rush to accept the Cavaliers’ reported offer. And it doesn’t seem like the Cavaliers are in any hurry to increase the said offer.
Sources have told Hoops Wire that negotiations have not been contentious. “It’s just business,” said one.
So what does it all mean?
Well, aside from Sexton being unsigned with two months to go before training camp, not a whole lot. It just means both the Cavs and Sexton’s camp are keeping all possibilities in mind. Yes, that includes a sign-and-trade arrangement with another team.
Right now, it appears the Cavs have an offer of three-years and $40 million on the table, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. And Sexton does not want that deal. That said, he has not gotten another offer.
Now, keep in mind that Sexton is a restricted free agent. It makes sense for the Cavs to say, “Here is our offer. Can you do better?” If so, the Cavs would match.
Fedor addressed all of this on The Lowe Post podcast with ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
“The offer I reported, the three-year (deal) around $40 million, I don’t get the sense that Collin and his camp would take that,” Fedor said, via RealGM. “I don’t think they would take a multiyear deal at that number.
“In fact, I think it would be more likely that they would take the qualifying offer (and) go into unrestricted free agency next offseason. Try and rebuild the value before that, show that you can be healthy, show that the meniscus tear is behind you, show you can adapt to a lesser sixth-man role, all those different things. I think that is more likely than them taking the multiyear offer that the Cavs have made at this point in time.”
As for a sign-and-trade, yes, it has to be considered. The interest in Sexton in that scenario is not real high — though as we relayed, the Jazz are keeping him on their radar. But they need to figure out what they’ll do with Donovan Mitchell first. Trading Mitchell, it seems, is Utah’s priority. But Sexton is a definite Plan B. The Knicks and Spurs are also said to be interested, though the Knicks’ priority is also Mitchell.
Another issue with Sexton, of course, is the salary cap.
“The NBA’s base year compensation rules and the Cavs’ current and future cap situation would be complicating factors, according to Fedor, who notes that the team wants to stay out of the tax this season while maintaining cap room in 2023,” wrote Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors.
Bottom line: Most around the league believe Sexton will return to the Cavs next season. He very well could do so on the qualifying offer, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. But there is a window there for something else to happen, for another team to make an offer or for a sign-and-trade. And we may not know for another month.
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If I were Colin I would take the qualifying offer if a sign-n-trade does not materialize and bet on myself. It’s obvious the Cavs do not value him for the current roster. Everyone is saying a six man role is in his future. We’ll see. Take a look at his first 3 year stats as compared to Kemba Walker, CJ McCollum, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jaylen Brunson and Lou Williams. All guards similar to him in stature and his PPG are better than all of them at this point in his career. I would not accept being pushed to the bench at that offer per year either. Especially with what THEY are being paid. He’s too young to be “cast” into that role IMO. Tyler Herro is going through the same thing in Miami.
Also, as disappointing as LeVert was in the starting role with us, why is he being GIVEN the starting job in everyone’s mind? Especially at $19 mil per season? If it’s his size in tandem with Garland, I get it. So a sign an trade may be the best for all concerned if we get the right value (no Clarkson for Exum disaster again please).
Klutch playing Chess lol so many fools on the internet these days think Sexton aint getting paid