The Cleveland Cavaliers and Collin Sexton are in a tough position with each other.
Sexton is entering his fourth year in the league and is eligible for a contract extension.
Other players from his draft class have received their extensions.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the most recent player from that draft to receive a big extension.
Sexton is still waiting.
However, the Cavaliers might trade him instead.
There have been rumors circulating about potential trades for the young guard.
The Cavaliers have begun to explore trade options involving Collin Sexton, per @JeremyWoo pic.twitter.com/ZAXGhByQ7U
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) June 25, 2021
The Cavaliers are being very hesitant on giving Sexton a big contract.
He would be a key piece for the next era of the Cavaliers, as they are rebuilding fully.
It is smart for the Cavaliers to weigh their options first and foremost.
Trading Sexton makes the most sense for the Cavaliers for these reasons.
Are His Numbers Misleading?
When you look at the stats for Sexton, you will be extremely impressed.
Collin Sexton's 20-21 breakout season included career-highs in PPG (24.3), APG (4.4) and RPG (3.1).
Young Bull comes in at #45 in our #NBAFantasy Top 50! pic.twitter.com/WepiHPctCr
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) August 14, 2021
This was easily a breakout performance this past year.
However, the numbers can be misleading.
His scoring has been excellent thus far in his career, but that has been it.
The assist numbers have not gotten higher than four a game.
That is not good when you look at his usage rate being 29.6 percent; higher than the MVP this past season, Nikola Jokic.
All of the scoring has translated to no more than 22 wins for the Cavaliers.
It looks good on paper, but it is just empty numbers.
The Cavaliers need to be hesitant on giving someone who seems like he is one-dimensional at the moment a huge contract extension for the next several years.
Is He A Future Star?
The question that needs to be asked before anything is if Sexton can be a star or not.
He is going to want $100 million-plus with an extension.
John Collins just got $120 million and you can make a case that Sexton is a better player as of right now.
The difference is that the Atlanta Hawks just finished a miraculous run to the Eastern Conference Finals; a run no one could foresee.
The Hawks do not want to lose out on this core and will worry about tinkering the roster later; potentially for another established star to go alongside Trae Young.
The Cavaliers are obviously not in that position.
That is why a trade can be the smart thing to do.
Maybe Sexton can be the third-best guy on a potential playoff team down the road.
However, the extension he wants is going to eat away at their cap and flexibility for the future.
They just re-signed Jarrett Allen to a big deal as well.
Giving Sexton a big payday will keep them near the luxury tax.
A trade might be in the best interest for the Cavaliers as an organization.
The likelihood of him being a star is slim at the moment.
The Cavaliers should not be comfortable handing over $120 million for a future of zero All-Star Games and zero playoff appearances.
A trade will be the best outcome for both parties.
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