Cavs: This Collin Sexton for CJ McCollum “blockbuster trade” is far from perfect

This CJ McCollum for Collin Sexton trade doesn’t work for the Cavs.

The Cavs continue to be the center of trade talks as the season creeps ever so closer. The Cavaliers have been tied most recently in trade rumors the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trailblazers. Usually, with the 76ers it’s a combination of players and picks for Ben Simmons. For the Trailblazers, it’s been a wider range of players from Robert Covington, to Norman Powell and occasionally CJ McCollum.

Usually, the trade involves Kevin Love for cap purposes, and since he’s said before he wants to play in Portland before his career is over, that is usually a solid idea to start a trade with. Yet, that’s where the good ideas end when it comes to the Blazers. At this point, most people go overboard and add way too much and don’t get enough back.

Cue today’s topic of conversation.

Kyle Daub of FadeAwayWorld.com wrote three “perfect” trade scenarios that are anything but. He took a stab at the Cavs and their need for an elite-level player on the wing but the trade he came up with is anything but perfect. As you can see, the Cavs are giving up way too much for McCollum

A CJ McCollum trade for Collin Sexton is a big reach.

The Cavs would love to get McCollum, make no mistake about that. The problem is giving up Sexton to do it. Sexton may be more Lou Williams than James Harden, but that’s ok. Why is that a bad thing? Every playoff contender wants a Lou Williams. That’s not an insult. I make that comparison to say that McCollum is an upgrade. That doesn’t mean that both men wouldn’t be needed.

It’s like if you were in baseball and you traded your best hitter for a great pitcher, or if you’re in football and you trade your best offensive linemen for a great receiver. Sure, you did what you needed to do (get an elite wing-scorer) but at what cost? Sexton is a great inside scorer for a guard, and while he’s not on McCollum’s level as a floor-spacer, you don’t just get rid of a guy like Sexton.

What makes this trade nearly impossible to accept is a multi-layered issue. Firstly, the Cavs are giving up too much for a soon-to-be-30-year-old, who’s undersized to play the two-position. You can have the draft pick or Sexton, but not both. As for the other player in the trade Anfernee Simmons, he’s a fine three-point shooter but he’s nothing special. If he was, the Blazers wouldn’t be so eager to trade him.

That’s from the vantage point of the Cavs.

Why this trade doesn’t work for the Blazers is simple; they don’t need another undersized two-guard who doesn’t facilitate. The Blazers may have Covington and Powell but they’re not scaring anyone, not if we’re being honest. The Blazers would be the ideal team to get someone like Ben Simmons because it gives them a big wing that can play shut-down defense, play point guard through center (in small-ball lineups), and allows someone else to worry about passing the ball instead of Lillard.

Getting a guy like Sexton is like turning back the clock on McCollum but not realizing that Lillard is just getting older. You don’t just want to add youth around Lillard, but guys who can do things Lillard can’t. Like be a shutdown defender, or be a passer from any level on the court.

No trade involving Sexton for McCollum makes sense. No matter how you slice it. The Blazers still have the same problems and the Cavs get rid of a young play-maker for an aging vet.

Now if the Cavs land Simmons without trading away Sexton or Love, then let’s look back at this trade idea.