Cavs: 3 best trade destinations for Collin Sexton after free agency
3 best trade destinations for Collin Sexton: Philadelphia 76ers
One of the most popular trade partners with the Cleveland Cavaliers all offseason have been the Philadelphia 76ers, in large part because of their shopping of star guard/wing/something Ben Simmons. The 6’10” ball-handler is perhaps the most available player in the league, if a trade partner brings enough to make 76ers’ President Daryl Morey blink.
The only scenario where a top-tier free agent is choosing to sign in Cleveland is if that free agent happened to grow up there. The Cavs’ paths to a star involve the draft and trades, and with Ben Simmons under contract for another four seasons he would lock in a star for a while, even if said star has some obvious warts.
The 76ers could use some shot creation and shooting, and Sexton would give them both in bunches. The Cavaliers could also include Larry Nance Jr. to give the 76ers a defensive swiss army knife to deploy alongside Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, or to even play as a small-ball center when Embiid is on the bench.
Many of the Cavs’ fans will likely blanch at the prospect of adding the shooting-challenged Simmons, but his defensive ability and overall impact are much higher than his reputation suggests. He and Evan Mobley would be a devastating combination in the frontcourt, and while Cleveland would likely need to trade Jarrett Allen down the line, they are going to have to do that anyway if Mobley is to reach his potential.
The 76ers are asking for trade packages significantly more lucrative than Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr. and matching salary. Teams aren’t biting, though, and eventually Philadelphia will lower its demands. If there isn’t a stronger bid out there, the Cavaliers could end up making a wild trade that would change the entire positioning of their roster.
Next. Predicting the Cavs starting lineup, rotation after free agency. dark
Any deal involving a beloved part of this Cavaliers rebuild will be hard for the organization and for fans, but if the team isn’t committed to paying Sexton close to a max contract they will have to move him or risk getting caught in restricted free agency matching such a deal. Dallas, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia are all unlikely destinations, but they offer intriguing return packages and make more sense than most as places for Sexton to land.