Cleveland Cavaliers: Did The Right Thing By Not Extending Collin Sexton
Nobody needs to question the Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to not extend Collin Sexton.
You’d think a third-year player averaging 24 points a game would be worthy of max money? Not according to GM, Koby Altman, and Owner, Dan Gilbert, who decided The Young Bull wasn’t worth the max deal he was seeking. Hate to say this, but the two are right (shocker). Sexton, as it stands now, is indeed not worth a mega-contract extension.
Let’s start off with the fan reaction. The one thing Cleveland fans do is latch on to certain players and defend them at all costs. Baker Mayfield, at his best he’s a league-average QB. Ask someone from Cleveland and they’ll throw out every excuse possible to say Josh Allen shouldn’t have been taken first. The city embraced J.R. Smith, despite him refusing to play for the Cavs before his departure. Point is, the Cleveland sports fan will do anything to excuse a player that has any sort of winner’s appeal. It doesn’t matter if they know the backstory or actual talent level of the player in question. The same mistake is being made with Colin Sexton.
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Yes, Sexton can be an All-Star in Cleveland. Fans have a right to want him here. However,is he the best player on the team? No. This is why I’m so baffled as to the amount of outrage the lack of an extension has gotten.
I understand players with Sexton’s scoring don’t grow on trees. Realize Sexton has not taken any real leaps forward in his previous two seasons. His growth and potential haven’t come to fruition. With others on the roster such as Darius Garland, Issac Okoro, Jarrett Allen, all showing that much-needed advancement, Sexton has stayed fairly stagnant. He’s not a PG, he’s a SG that doesn’t understand he’s not suited to be the main ball handler. Sexton isn’t playing within the offense and goes rogue on more than a few occasions. That’s how it has been for three seasons.
Here are some alarming stats about Sexton. During his first two NBA seasons, only .318 (rookie season) and .293 (2nd season) of his 2-pt attempts were assisted. That means almost 70 percent of his shots from 2-pt range were him taking it upon himself to shoot the ball. What’s interesting, in 2021, Sexton was assisted on 42 percent of his 2-pt shots, thanks in large part to Darius Garland and Matthew Dellavedova
taking the reigns as the primary PGs. However, Sexton’s points only increased by 2 per game.
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There really isn’t a reason Sexton needs to have the ball in his hands. He’s a less effective player, and the team isn’t nearly as involved as it should be. It’s not like Cleveland has won many games with Sexton as the alpha. To put a cherry on top, Sexton was in the top-3 of most blocked shot attempts in 2021. He’s also maintained a -9 rating on the defensive end. Again, why does he think he’s the only one who needs to score?
Before anyone gets his or her knickers in a twist, I’d love for Sexton to stay a Cavalier. I’d foam at the mouth if he became a 6th man. He’s a player who needs to be the main focus on the court (at least he seems to think so). Pair him with a Delly or Ricky Rubio, whose main focus is passing, that will give him the best chance to succeed.
The Cavs do in fact need firepower off the bench. If Sexton is going to want to take over the game and not fall in line with Garland being the main PG, he needs to accept the role that is best suited for him. A role as the primary option in the 2nd unit will do. Remember, his rookie season was basically a nightly contest between himself and Jordan Clarkson as to who could take the most shots without passing.
(Jordan Clarkson went to Utah and became the NBA’s 6th man of the year for the 2020-21 season.)
Sexton embracing the 6th man role allows Cleveland to run a starting roster of Garland, Okoro, Lauri Markannen, Evan Mobley, and Allen. You’ll have Sexton come off the bench with a combo of Rubio, Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Denzel Valentine, or Dean Wade (Dylan Windler will never stay healthy so that’s a non-factor). Those players, outside of Love, ( who is a shell of his former self), maintain no real massive scoring threat to opposing teams. That bench would be a lot better if Sexton brought that juice to the party.
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With the way the NBA gives out contracts, Sexton surely deserves good money. However, the Cavaliers don’t need him to accept a deal that they feel he’s not worth. Besides, there are really only three teams that can offer Sexton max money. Oklahoma City is one, and they stand to be the biggest threat, however, Josh Giddey and Shai would essentially force Sexton into a bench role there as well. San Antonio I doubt will take on a player of his style. Orlando has more guards than Mickey Mouse has extravagant outfits.
You’re looking at a tough road if you’re Colin Sexton. If he doesn’t improve this season, and that means his passing, ball movement, defense, and team cohesion, he’s back in the same boat next year. He is more than likely taking a lesser deal than what Cleveland offered him on the extension. That’s Sexton’s decision to not take that offer.
With that decision comes the task of him proving the Cavs wrong and doing what it takes to garner that max money in their eyes. Once again, he’s not getting more than what the Cavs offered him from anyone else. Either he proves his worth to Cleveland, or he just took a gamble that isn’t going to pay off. Whatever way you look at it, Altman and Gilbert won (shocker)
Image Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
