What Would Be Fair Compensation For Collin Sexton?

 

We’re edging closer and closer to the time when the Cavaliers are going to have to make some hard roster decisions.

Not just the Cavs, but every team in the NBA.

With the Finals over and the Draft just a few days away, preparations for next season are already underway.

For Cleveland, that includes deciding what to do with Collin Sexton.

Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, teams are already circling the waters for the pending free agent, should he not receive an extension by the Cavaliers.

If the Cavs decide not to retain Sexton, Cleveland could explore moving Sexton via sign-and-trade.

But what would be a fair return for the four-year vet?

Let’s dive in and take a look.

 

The Nuts and Bolts

Any return for Sexton is stunted for several reasons.

First and perhaps most obvious, Sexton is coming off a serious injury that limited him to 11 games of action last season.

Second, Sexton is a pending free agent.

That means teams interested in acquiring Sexton’s services could simply wait it out for Sexton to hit the open market, without sacrificing their own talent to bring him in.

The Cavs want to re-sign Collin Sexton and bring back Ricky Rubio, per @KevinOConnorNBA pic.twitter.com/MuIAkfyWQi

— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) June 13, 2022

 

Third, given that he’s a free agent, he likely expects a payday somewhere in the $22-25 million per year range.

And fourth, Sexton is tiny and flawed defensively.

No disrespect, but teams bringing him into their backcourt would necessarily have to find someone longer to play alongside Sexton.

How many teams are willing to cough up that kind of dough for a guy who is a liability on defense and saw his team take a massive leap forward without him?

The Darius Garland piece is especially intriguing.

Perhaps Garland was always destined to make the All-Star leap last season.

Or was it because he was able to play a little freer with a better supporting cast?

Nonetheless, a team would receive a quality scorer in Sexton.

In his non-injury-hampered seasons, Sexton has steadily improved his shooting.

But he’s not an eye-popping shooter, by any means.

While he’s capable of popping off for 20+ points any given night, his shooting numbers still hover right around the league averages.

 

Verdict

The word “fair” in “fair compensation” is tricky.

What the Cavs deem as “fair” compensation for a guy they drafted in the mid-lottery just four years ago likely differs from what the Pistons or Pacers deem as “fair.”

The Pistons and Pacers are considered the “biggest threats” to pry Collin Sexton away from the Cavaliers this off-season.

(via @ChrisFedor) pic.twitter.com/GJ8M7CmZ7J

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 1, 2022

Regardless, don’t expect the Cavs to get a massive haul for Sexton.

If Cleveland is only interested in moving Sexton and no one else, then maybe teams are willing to hand over a heavily protected first-rounder or a rotation player or two.

Given the need for roster depth, parlaying Sexton into rotation depth isn’t the worst idea.

The Cavs would have many more options if they decided to throw in another piece to sweeten the deal, say, Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, or its own future draft pick.

At this point, if the Cavaliers decide to move on from Sexton, getting something is certainly better than nothing.