Collin Sexton – Cleveland Cavaliers
Restricted Free Agent – 2021-22 Salary: $6.3 million
Another key restricted free agent that is not getting much attention right now because he is injured is Collin Sexton. The fourth-year guard suffered a season-ending knee injury early on in the season for the Cavaliers, but he has been one of the better scorers from the 2018 draft class.
Just 23-years-old, Sexton still has a lot of growing to do in the NBA, but he has already made himself quite a bit of money with his play in Cleveland over the years.
Since being drafted 8th overall in 2018, Collin Sexton has averaged 20.0 points, 3.3 assists and has shot 37.8% from three-point range. Proving to be a scorer and facilitator, Sexton is one of the better guards available this upcoming offseason, and the Cavaliers could be willing to move on from him.
Darius Garland emerged as a first-time All-Star without Collin Sexton by his side this season and after trading for Caris LeVert at the trade deadline, the Cavaliers are going to be tight on cap space.
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We could very well be looking at a sign-and-trade situation here for the Cavaliers in the offseason in which they sign Sexton and then deal him that way he gets the contract he wants at the full amount he can get.
Realistically, Sexton is looking at a three-year or four-year deal worth around $15 million to $18 million in average annual value on his next contract due to the fact that he is coming off of a meniscus injury.
There are no long-term concerns about Sexton’s knee, but teams will be cautious with giving a max contract to a player coming off a season-ending knee injury, hence the slight discount in projections.
With quite a few teams needing to address their backcourt in the offseason, Collin Sexton could very well dictate the market for point guards and shooting guards in free agency.
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Being a young, versatile guard makes Collin Sexton a very attractive player in free agency, one that the Cavaliers may not be able to afford to keep long-term.
