Cavs rumors: CLE shouldn’t strongly consider Collin Sexton-Knicks trade

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton has recently been a player that has been mentioned in trade rumors, and in that realm, the Cavs have “begun to explore trade options” involving Sexton.

Per that report from Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo, it’s more so because of Sexton’s camp seemingly likely seeking a max contract extension, of which he could be eligible for this offseason. It’s also coincided with how Cleveland could end up drafting a guard #3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, such as Jalen Green or Jalen Suggs, which could possibly lead to a dealing of Sexton.

Now from my perspective, even if the Cavaliers were to draft either of those players, I’d like to see Sexton get some playing time with that player and Darius Garland still. I believe, especially in the case with the electric Green, that that could be such a difficult trio to account for, and the on and off-ball abilities of both would be a trio worth trying out.

That’d be for at least some chunk of next season, and perhaps Sexton’s camp and the Cavs could figure something out next offseason, if he weren’t extended this offseason.

Nonetheless, if Cleveland were to end up trading Sexton, be it before next season or maybe during, a potential landing spot could maybe end up being the New York Knicks.

Albeit according to a report from Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, the Knicks are prepared to make a full-court press offer for superstars Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal, and following that, are reportedly interested in signing Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency.

Winfield mentioned the likes of Kemba Walker, Russell Westbrook, Kyle Lowry (via sign-and-trade), John Wall and seemingly D’Angelo Russell as potential trade targets from there, and stated how RJ Barrett could be “dangled” in potential trade talks, most notably.

From there though, Winfield also stated in his report how New York will be “monitoring” Collin Sexton, to go with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Terry Rozier, in the event the Portland Trail Blazers or Washington Wizards didn’t have interest in a deal centered on Lillard or Beal, respectively.

With that said, it’s tough to tell whether or not a potential deal would be made, in relation to Sexton and the Cavs shouldn’t strongly consider that.

Cavs rumors: Cleveland shouldn’t be strongly considering a potential Sexton to Knicks trade.

While Winfield did demonstrate how Barrett could be a piece involved in a possible deal for an established star, along with others, such as Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and picks/pick swaps, I wouldn’t foresee that for Sexton. Winfield’s report didn’t make it appear that way for Barrett or Rozier really, at least not in this case.

Winfield did state how Sexton, Rozier or Gilgeous-Alexander could be younger guards that New York could fold into its “plans for the future.”

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But from Cleveland’s standpoint, while again New York is said to be monitoring Sexton’s situation with the Cavs, it’s tough to foresee the Cavs actually having much interest in conducting a deal.

Perhaps a possible deal could involve Sexton and say, Dylan Windler, for shooting potential, in exchange for Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and the Knicks’ 2021 #21 overall pick and their #32 overall pick, via the Detroit Pistons.

Robinson is an impactful roller/lob threat and could provide a terrific shot blocking presence that Cleveland could maybe look to keep around long term.

In Knox’s case, I’m personally out on him but the shooting flashes could be something Cleveland thinks they could work with, and from there, maybe the Cavs could target Kai Jones, Cameron Thomas or Trey Murphy III at #21. At #32, the likes of Jason Preston or Greg Brown III could be in the cards.

Thomas, although he hit 32.5 percent from three-point range in his lone season at LSU, is a gifted scorer and did attempt over seven triples per outing, and plenty of those were off-the-bounce and off-movement. He’ll fill it up at the NBA level I believe.

All things considered though, while I get that the Knicks could have interest in Sexton, the Cavaliers wouldn’t be wise to consider moving him for mostly picks and a non-shooting backup 5, in this suggested case.

Of course a different deal could potentially be of interest to the Cavs involving a different framework possibly down the road, but even with suggested picks offered in a hypothetical Knicks deal centered on Sexton, those players will be a ways out likely from contributing close to Sexton’s level.

He again led Cleveland with 24.3 points per outing last season, and showed continued improvement as, particularly a secondary playmaker, with 4.4 assists per outing last season.

So while we’ll have to see if a potential trade were to come about, and with more Cavs rumors to come, a deal with the Knicks, with New York not seemingly likely to consider moving Barrett in a case involving Sexton, objectively, should not pique the Cavs’ interest.

It’s hard to foresee the Cavaliers strongly considering that sort of thing from New York for Sexton, who they should again give some time with their presumptive #3 selection. And perhaps if Evan Mobley were to be Cleveland’s pick, he’d end up sticking around, anyhow. Albeit the rumors will likely stick around.

In that realm, it was recently reported that the Miami Heat have had exploratory trade talks involving pursuing Sexton and Kevin Love, per Adam Borai, Greg Sylvander and Brady Hawk of Five Reasons Sports Network.

Miami would be looking to receive a few of Cleveland’s future second-round picks, too, as an aside, per Sylvander and Hawk’s report, and have “canvassed the league for a third team to get involved.”

To be clear here, though, a deal is anything but imminent, and while Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword did confirm the Miami and New York interest in Sexton, he reported how it’s still more realistic that Cleveland keeps Sexton through next season.

He gets the sense, to follow up Borai’s report, that it’s more so that Sexton wouldn’t be dealt this offseason and that Cleveland could look to “ride out” extension talks until his restricted free agency next offseason, in that sense. And Dammarell did state if Sexton were to be dealt, given potential extension talks, that it might not be a particularly notable deal.

So anyway, while the Cavs rumors involving potential Sexton trades will likely be here to stay, it seems apparent to me that Cleveland should be patient and not strongly consider a Knicks deal.

We’ll see regarding the Heat as a possible trade landing spot, but it’s tough to say there.