The Cleveland Cavaliers are internally discussing the idea of trading Collin Sexton. Drafted using the 2018 Nets pick acquired in the Kyrie Irving trade, Sexton was also the first pick used as LeBron James was getting ready to leave in free agency. He also took Irving’s number 2 jersey. As a result, the optics of trading Sexton may not be very good. However, there are reasons for Cleveland to make a Sexton trade.
First off, if the Cavaliers draft Jalen Suggs or Jalen Green to pair with 2019 5th overall pick Darius Garland in the backcourt, that would leave Sexton without a spot. However, I think they will end up with Evan Mobley because I think the Rockets should draft Jalen Green leaving Cleveland to draft a very good fit with Evan Mobley. Another reason for the Cavs to trade Sexton is they do not like the fit with Garland. After a tough rookie season, Darius Garland had a really solid 2021 season for the Cavs, averaging 17.4 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on a shooting slash of .45/.39/.85. Those are very good numbers and it looks like Garland will continue to improve so if you feel that Sexton is not a good fit in the backcourt, you should look at different options as well. Another issue that the Cavs have with Collin Sexton is that he is extension eligible. Now, he is not near a max player but if Cleveland does not feel comfortable paying what he is demanding or paying what they project he could get as a restricted free agent in 2022, a trade could be the right move. Finally, the Cavaliers could try and add the 2 years left on Kevin Love’s contract as a part of a trade. Now, that would limit what you are getting back in a Sexton trade but it may be worth it considering if you are not all in on Sexton and have been trying to trade Kevin Love for like 3 years now. There are plenty of teams with the cap space or the contracts to send back to the Cavs to pull this kind of deal so a Sexton/Love trade might make the most sense for Cleveland at this time.
The team that makes the most sense for any Collin Sexton trade is the New York Knicks. They own all of their future draft picks including an extra Mavericks pick in 2023. To go along with that, New York owns the 19th and 21st in the 2021 draft so future picks are likely unnecessary. Obi Toppin is probably a player Cleveland would be interested in, so Collin Sexton for Obi Toppin and the 19th pick is a possibility. However, they could also add Love to a trade. Something like Sexton and Love for Toppin, Kevin Knox, and the 19th pick also works out well for both sides. One issue is that Kevin Love and Julius Randle do play the same position, a 4 who you are not comfortable playing at the 3 and are unsure you want as your primary starting center. So that could become the issue for the Knicks but with how positionless the NBA has become, I am sure the team could figure it out. Another team that makes sense on a Sexton and Love trade is the Miami Heat. A deal of Sexton and Love for Andre Iguodola, Goran Dragic, KZ Okpala, and Precious Achiuwa could be one that both teams agree on with Iguodola and Dragic possibly being flipped to a 3rd team or even traded separate deals. Miami adds 2 players that can slide right into their starting 5 playing with Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, and Bam Adebayo, while the Cavs get moveable veterans and 2 solid young players. Now, the Heat could say that is an overpay as 2 years and $60 million of Kevin Love is probably not as valuable as expiring contracts of Andre Iguodola and Goran Dragic, even without the contracts I still might prefer to have Iggy/Dragic over Love, so they may try and keep the young guys out of that swap, or just keep veterans out of the trade all together. The last trade I will be bringing up would be one that shocked the entire NBA community.
The Philadelphia 76ers have expressed an interest in trading Ben Simmons. They need a point guard and shooters to surround Joel Embiid with. Well, Collin Sexton plays point guard and both Sexton and Love can shoot the ball, filling both of the needs. The Cavaliers need an identity, a player they can build around, and a star to sell jersey’s and bring people to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (formerly known as the Quicken Loans Arena and nicknamed ‘The Q’) and Ben Simmons checks all of those boxes. He is a player you can build around and go to the playoffs with, he creates a defensive identity the Cavs can build their next era on, and he is a star that can sell jerseys and put people in the seats. Cleveland could offer Philly Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, and a future first round pick in exchange for Simmons. The Sixers may ask for more but it would not be much more. A core of Ben Simmons, Darius Garland, Issac Okaro, Jarrett Allen (or someone acquired for Allen), and the number 3 pick in the draft, is something Cleveland can build on, as they continue the post-LeBron James era.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown they are looking to possibly trade Collin Sexton. Being not only the first player acquired in the post-LeBron James era but also being the player drafted using the pick that was acquired for Kyrie Irving, there was a lot of pressure on Sexton as he entered the NBA. However, he has not always been very reliable for the Cavs, being inconsistent throughout his 3 year career so that coupled with him being extension eligible, the Cavs are listening to trade offers. Sexton’s raw ability to score the ball can help any team so there is definitely a market out there for his services. Someone has the ability to acquire a really good player in the form of Collin Sexton.
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