The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season this past year. Thanks to a revolutionary triple-big lineup and the emergence of multiple All-Stars, they were able to surpass all expectations.
Unfortunately, their season was riddled with injuries. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley dealt with some earlier in the year, but guys like Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton suffered them earlier on.
Sexton is the most intriguing player of those listed due to his impending free agency. And while the Cavs would probably love to bring him back, there are reportedly a few teams out there looking to steal him from Cleveland.
Report: 3 teams looking to steal Collin Sexton from Cleveland Cavaliers
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards are considered the top three threats to steal Sexton away from the Cavaliers. (H/T Bleacher Report)
Detroit has been involved in multiple rumors involving point guards, as they are looking pair Cade Cunningham with a secondary ball-handler. Jalen Brunson is another name they’ve been connected to, and Sexton would play a similar role for them.
The Pacers could be looking to do a similar thing with point guard Tyrese Haliburton. They have Malcolm Brogdon, but trading him and replacing him with a young, hungry Sexton could be a smart move for the future.
Lastly, the Wizards will be aiming to pair Bradley Beal with a new starting point guard this summer. They’ve been searching for one ever since John Wall left, and Sexton could help fill that void.
Of the three teams, only the Wizards would need the Cavaliers’ help to get a deal done (via sign-and-trade). The Pistons and Pacers will likely both have enough money to sign Sexton outright.
The biggest question is, what’s the asking price? According to Fedor, Sexton’s camp demanded at least $20 million per season last summer, but when the final offer came in a bit lower than that, they weren’t able to get a deal done.
With the Pistons and Pacers in full rebuild mode (and the Wizards desperate for talent), all three teams could try to overpay for the young point guard. At that point, it would just be a matter of how badly the Cavs want Sexton back.