Cavs: 3 big concerns facing the Cavaliers heading into the 2021 offseason
By Chad Porto
Trading Collin Sexton to avoid the extension
This takes us to the next problem, what to do with Collin Sexton. To the laymen, Sexton seems like a great player. He averages 20+ points per game nevermind the fact that he has to have the ball in his hands an insane amount of the time to get those 20 points, or the fact he’s not a good passer, is terrible at stretching the court to create room for teammates to work underneath, and oh yeah, he’s the worst defender on the team.
But he can score 20 points a game, so that’s something. Sexton isn’t a terrible piece, nor is he a terrible player. If things were all even, yeah, Sexton would be brought back as a sixth-man for the Cavs; like a Lou Williams or Jordan Clarkson role. Something Sexton would excel at. He’s not being asked to be the third or fourth-best scorer on the Cavaliers, however. The team is asking him to be the first. That means Sexton is going to seak to get paid like the best.
That’s where the problem lies, as few actually believe he’s worth anywhere close to that type of money. So the two options you have are to trade him or pay him. The idea of trading him has become a point of interest among the Cavs. Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto spoke to two NBA “people” and both suggested trading Sexton due to the salary implications of his new deal.
"12. Two NBA people I respect suggest the Cavs trade Sexton,” wrote Pluto. “One likes him a lot, one is lukewarm. But their point is the team should only sign [Jarrett] Allen (a restricted free agent) to a $100 million deal. Because of the [Kevin] Love contract, the Cavs can’t pay Allen and Sexton tons of cash without crushing the salary cap."
It does seem to open up a conversation to be had about keeping Sexton if Kevin Love is moved. So if that’s the case and Love is moved, then it seems possible that the Cavs could keep Sexton.