One of the more surprising NBA free agency developments this offseason is the market for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton. There were some rumors heading into the offseason that he could land a deal in the neighborhood of $20 million annually, but thus far, nothing has come to fruition.
Sexton did miss all but 11 games last season as he suffered a torn meniscus. The market for restricted free agents is normally slower to develop and entering it off an injury certainly doesn’t help. However, the last time that he was healthy during the 2020-21 season, Sexton averaged 23.4 points per game as a 22-year-old.
The scoring prowess that he possesses is legitimate as he can fill it up efficiently from anywhere on the court. While he has some limitations in his game, as his playmaking is a work in progress and his size limits the impact he can have defensively, players who score the way he does at that young of an age aren’t available too often.
That is likely part of the reason that Sexton and his representation aren’t giving any discounts during negotiations. They know what he is worth and want to maximize his earnings, which could lead to an interesting decision later on this offseason.
“Collin Sexton is in the midst of the most difficult free agency status — restricted free agency — but the fourth-year guard and his representation, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, have shown so far that they won’t settle in negotiations. Discussions could go into training camp, and potentially into the season when the landscape of the league’s rosters shift.”
That would certainly be a risk heading into training camp and the regular season without a contract. It is hard to imagine money opening up somewhere in the league, but things could certainly change once rosters are finalized for the regular season.
Another avenue that Sexton could take is accepting the qualifying offer that was extended to him. That would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer when he would be one of the better players available.
There are certainly some risks to signing a qualifying offer, as an underwhelming season or injury could occur, further diminishing the player’s value. But, it could also result in a sizable payday, as unrestricted free agency is much easier to cash in on than restricted free agency.
That will certainly be something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. While locking into a long-term deal would be the best course of action, one has to be presented to Sexton. If it isn’t, signing the one-year qualifying offer and betting on himself is certainly a feasible route.
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