Cavs: Latest Collin Sexton news is crushing, but hopefully he sticks around

We hadn’t gotten any updates for a bit in relation to Collin Sexton‘s meniscus tear in his left knee, although it was evident that his season could be in the books, depending on what further examination showed.

Unfortunately, that doomsday scenario would play out for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Per a report on Friday night from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Sexton had surgery to repair that meniscus tear, and will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.

The following Cavaliers statement noted how Sexton underwent successful surgery on Nov. 17 after it was deemed that was “the best course of action” for it.

Sexton was adjusting to a role with him playing more so off-ball, continuing on from him moving to a combo guard role more last season, but the scoring was down as well with the adjustment. Sexton through 11 games this season had 16.0 points per game, and connected on only 24.4 percent of his three-point attempts.

That said, Sexton was demonstrating continued growth on-ball on the defensive end, at least from my perspective, and despite the splits not indicating it, he frankly should’ve had far better splits than a 2.1-2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. Teammates didn’t aid him in that realm, honestly.

The signs early on from Sexton, even with the deep shooting woes, were encouraging for him in Year 4, even with his minutes decreasing some.

Nonetheless, while Sexton could’ve potentially been back at some point in January it seemed, he won’t be for Cleveland this season, which is crushing, simply put. I know the Cavs are 9-8, and have gotten all they could’ve asked for from Evan Mobley pre-elbow injury, and guys such as Ricky Rubio, and Darius Garland has played well.

The Cavs can’t replicate what Sexton can do individually as a driving presence, and true three-level scorer, though, and that will hurt throughout games, and I could see in crunch time, too.

Now, Sexton/his representation and the Cavaliers did not come to an agreement on a contract extension prior to the deadline before the season, but with him having been here since the start of this second-post LeBron James departure rebuild, I’d like to see him stick around. Sexton has gotten better year-to-year, showed real secondary playmaking growth last season, to go with off-ball progression, and his presence can help open up other guys.

We’ll have to see, of course, however, hopefully Sexton sticks around, as he’s still seemingly a core piece for this Cavs team that looks to be building something for the long haul.

As we hit on, Sexton/his representation and Cleveland could not come to an agreement prior to the season/the potential extension deadline for his 2018 NBA Draft class. That was reportedly due to the Cavs wanting a fifth year on a potential extension for him, whereas Sexton was initially looking for four in the $100 million range.

So, from here, this was just so awful for Collin, as had he been able to kill it this year, or be a key player for Cleveland still, as I’d assume he would’ve been if he were to return this season, and Sexton could’ve cashed in sizably.

Even with that in mind, one can understand the reasoning here from a career/health standpoint, and hopefully Sexton can recover in due time.

It’s tough to say, at least right now, as far as what his possible market might be with his fourth season essentially having been wiped out and injuries being so prevalent for the Cavs during last season, hindering the club’s success.

Granted, I do still think that based on Sexton being such a crucial part of the Cavaliers’ culture in recent years, and with how comments from him last month make it seem he genuinely wants to be around long term, that he could still stick around.

Sexton is currently set to be a restricted free agent next offseason, though, so we’ll have to see what ultimately plays out/if the Cavs were to match a potential offer sheet from another team.

Cleveland general manager Koby Altman has long hit on how Sexton has shown continued improvement year-to-year, and Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has expressed time and time again how Sexton is such a gifted scorer, tireless worker and has shown progression in other areas. So I do still think Sexton could remain with the Cavaliers in coming years.

I just can’t say for certain, depending on how the rest of this 2021-22 season for Cleveland unfolds, if the Cavs and Sexton/his camp will come to an agreement next offseason, based on this crushing news for Collin.

But I for one, believe with Garland, him, Evan Mobley pre-injury, Jarrett Allen and others, that the Cavs really have the makings of a postseason team from here with more time to gel, hopefully. Time will tell as to what plays out.