Collin Sexton is a very talented guard that will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. He is currently averaging 17.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.9 APG over the course of the first few games of the season.
Over the course of the 2020-21 season though, Collin Sexton was able to put up 24.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 4.4 APG. Those are premier guard numbers, though he was viewed below some of the top-tier guards due to the lack of team success from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers and Collin Sexton did not manage to agree on an extension last year, and Sexton will become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Sexton’s representation asked for “the type of money De’Aaron Fox and Jamal Murray received” (both got max contracts) but the Cavaliers weren’t interested in offering that kind of money.
About two weeks before the NBA’s opening-night deadline for rookie contract extensions, I was told that the Cavs and Collin Sexton were on track to get an agreement in place for something in the neighborhood of $20-25 million a year. A few days before the deadline, I was told talks hit a “snag” without any further explanation.
The two sides ultimately parted without a deal. Preserving the relationship now will be key, particularly since Sexton’s 2018 draft class broke a record with more than $1 billion in extensions. Emotions are involved when a deal isn’t struck in a situation like this, given how this organization positioned Sexton for so long. I’ve been vocal about how the Cavs have miscast Sexton in a role for which he wasn’t suited for a number of years.
Sure enough, Sexton’s side originally asked for the type of money De’Aaron Fox and Jamal Murray received, according to one source with knowledge of the talks. Both young guards received max contracts and had numbers comparable to Sexton, but the Cavs weren’t interested in anything close to that.
There were trade rumors swirling around Collin Sexton all summer, with him being linked to teams such as the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, and the Indiana Pacers. It remains to be seen if the Cavaliers end up moving him prior to the trade deadline this year.
Collin Sexton may not have gotten a max contract, but he’s certainly a player that a lot of teams would love to have. Perhaps if he has a strong year, he could get a big extension that suits his demands, though it is still doubtful that any team will offer him the max.
