As the Cavaliers dive into the 2021 offseason, major changes could soon be on the horizon.
Perhaps the biggest move of all could be a Collin Sexton trade. Rumors are swirling that the Cavs have begun exploring the market for their young guard. Sexton, still just 22 years old, averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists per game this season.
Contract-wise, it makes sense for Cleveland to part ways with Sexton. They don’t seem enamored with the idea of giving him a max extension, and he still has one year left under his current deal before presumably hitting restricted free agency. His fit with Darius Garland and the rest of the roster is far from hand-in-glove.
Over the weekend, we held a contest to see who could come up with the best hypothetical trade package centered around Sexton. The 10 best ones are below.
10. Sexton for Kristaps Porzingis
Having two of the highest-paid bigs in the league would be a tough pill for the Cavs to swallow. Kristaps Porzingis had a very solid regular season but in the playoffs, his lack of skill development was glaring. Kevin Love would have to be out of the picture in order for this trade to make more sense.
9. Sexton for Will Barton
Will Barton has a player option for the upcoming season and assuming he picks it up, the Cavs would still essentially be getting a rental. The 30-year-old wing is undoubtedly a solid player but without a reworked contract of some sort, losing Sexton wouldn’t be worth it for Cleveland.
8. Sexton for Kira Lewis Jr., Pick No. 10
This trade would be very interesting. Kira Lewis Jr. was a lottery pick last year and showed flashes in 16.7 minutes per game this year. Additionally, the Cavs could still get a quality player with another top-10 pick. With that said, banking on the development of Lewis and a draft pick is always risky.
7. Sexton, Love for Ben Simmons
The sentiment behind a Ben Simmons-to-the-Cavs is reasonable. Getting out from under Love’s contract and embarking on a new journey with a younger, more promising player also makes sense. With that said, Simmons’ fit in Cleveland — as the team is currently constructed — is less than stellar. The concept is solid but in actuality, it may come back to bite the Cavs should Simmons never expand his range or develop a midrange shot.
6. Sexton, Love, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 first-round pick (top-8 protected) for Brandon Ingram, Jaxson Hayes, 2021 second-round pick
There is a lot to digest here. The second-round picks are afterthoughts in comparison to a 2023 first-rounder and a swap of Sexton and Love for Brandon Ingram and Jaxson Hayes. Love’s contract makes it extremely hard to believe that New Orleans would bite on this deal, but the thought of Ingram in Cleveland is a scary one — in the best of ways.
5. Sexton, Larry Nance Jr., 2022 first-round pick (top-four protected) for Jaylen Brown, Aaron Nesmith
File this one, again, under the “highly unlikely, but still cool” category. Larry Nance Jr. has emerged as a valuable piece for the Cavs, but Jaylen Brown has cemented his status as a star in today’s league. He’d also be a terrific fit in Cleveland. Aaron Nesmith probably wouldn’t even be needed here, but he’s a decent end-of-the-rotation option to throw in.
4. Sexton for Kyle Kuzma, Ben McLemore
The Lakers, as with pretty much every trade rumor involving a promising player, have been listed by many as a team that should target Sexton. They don’t have much to offer but on a relatively new contract, Kyle Kuzma would be a solid addition at either forward spot. With that said, Ben McLemore is a free agent and simply getting Kuzma alone for a player of Sexton’s caliber would be a bit underwhelming. It’s far more realistic than some of the aforementioned packages, though, so it cracks the top-four.
3. Sexton, Love for Andrew Wiggins, 2021 first-round pick
Andrew Wiggins rebuilt his reputation a bit this past season, scoring an efficient 18.6 points per game and contributing some very solid defense. His price tag would make it difficult for the Cavs to operate, but shedding Love’s deal alleviates some of that pressure. When you add in a likely late lottery pick in this year’s draft, Cleveland nets a decent return when all things are considered.
2. Sexton for Killian Hayes, one of Sekou Doumbouya or Isaiah Stewart, future first-round pick
https://twitter.com/hellmann_jack/status/1409243621476417538?s=20
The argument for Cade Cunningham going to the Pistons in this year’s draft is that having a pair of primary perimeter creators in the same starting five is a great idea. Would the same rule apply to Killian Hayes and Garland in Cleveland?
Kind of. Hayes isn’t the off-ball shooter that Cunningham is, nor does he boast that level of floor or ceiling. He would make a lot more sense if Garland wasn’t already Cleveland’s point guard. A future first-rounder and the dealer’s choice of Sekou Doumbouya or Isaiah Stewart makes for an enticing haul, but fit and development keep this package just outside of the top spot.
1. Sexton, Cedi Osman for Obi Toppin, RJ Barrett
Cedi Osman is a fine player but in an ideal world, he serves as a wing on an NBA second unit. Obi Toppin had a very underwhelming rookie season with the Knicks and while the Cavaliers don’t need another big, his ability to rim run, catch lobs and even space the floor would be great. When factoring in his contract and also the addition of RJ Barrett, this makes for a very solid return. Barrett improved a great deal from year one to year two and would be a fun backcourt mate to work alongside Garland.
Congratulations to (@BigCountryDH) for putting together the winning trade package. DM us @FortyEightMins to claim your prize! Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest.
