The continued standoff between the Cavaliers and free agent Collin Sexton hasn’t been contentious, but it doesn’t appear the two sides are close to an agreement, sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Sexton’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, continues to insist that his client deserves the salary of a starting guard, which is what he was before suffering a torn meniscus 11 games into last season. Paul wants Sexton to be paid more than $20M per year, similar to the deals that Jalen Brunson got from the Knicks and Anfernee Simons received from the Trail Blazers.
Even though Sexton’s options are limited because he’s a restricted free agent, Fedor notes that Lonzo Ball, Malcolm Brogdon and Terry Rozier were all able to land big contracts in the same situation in recent years.
Cleveland’s offer is roughly $40M over three years, which would pay Sexton about $13M per season. The team believes it’s a reasonable contract for someone coming off a major injury, noting that it’s almost twice as much as Sexton’s $7.2M qualifying offer and an increase over the $10.4M mid-level exception. Sexton still has the option of accepting the QO and moving into unrestricted free agency next summer.
The Cavs are determined to remain under the luxury tax this season, Fedor adds, and can’t offer Sexton much more than $13M without exceeding the threshold.
Paul talked to Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman in late July, but Fedor’s sources said neither side seems willing to move off its demands even though they understand a deal needs to be reached before the start of training camp.
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