Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton watched the deadline pass by without a contract extension in hand.
To those monitoring Sexton’s contract saga, this comes as no surprise. Sexton and his camp were rumored to be seeking a deal similar to what the Sacramento Kings gave De’Aaron Fox—five years and $163 million. However, the Cavs didn’t see such an amount as a wise investment, at least, at this point.
Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor shed light on what Sexton wanted.
Sexton, the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and lone remaining piece of the Kyrie Irving trade, was hoping for a multi-year deal, north of $100 million, that aligned with his production over the first three years, a source said. There were multiple structures discussed. Different lengths. Incentives. Unique clauses. Bonuses. The Cavs never found a comfortable deal.
Collin Sexton is a helluva talent. His work ethic is elite. However, he doesn’t come without any weak spots. Since entering the NBA, the former Alabama Crimson Tide has been criticized for his defense. Unfortunately, he’s been a negative presence on that end of the floor.
The Cavs added pieces to compensate, though. Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley are all reliable defenders who are versatile enough to cover multiple spots.
To complicate things for Sexton, Cleveland also made a couple of big splashes in the offseason, signing Allen to a $100 million deal and adding Lauri Markkanen to the tune of $67 million for four years.
As it stands, Sexton has the opportunity to become a restricted free agent next season with the Cavs having the power to match any offer.