What Ayton offer sheet means for Cavs: Market not waiting on Durant
When Kevin Durant made his desire to be traded known to the Brooklyn Nets, the expectation was that the market would freeze while everyone waited on negotiations. To some extent that happened; players who already had deals in place ahead of time (gasp, say it isn’t so!) signed, as did a number of smaller players with teams not involved in a potential Durant trade.
The restricted free agency market was essentially frozen, and trades involving veteran players have basically been on hold as well outside of a few exceptions. The DeAndre Ayton offer sheet marked a change in the league’s thinking. With the Nets taking their time on any Durant trade, and this process increasingly likely to stretch for weeks or even into Training Camp, the rest of the league might be ready to move on.
Ayton’s offer sheet kicked that off, but the dominos could start to fall now. Teams could begin filling out the rest of their rosters with the remaining free agents, and trades could begin happening as Summer League negotiations take root. Teams trying to keep their assets in play for a Durant deal may be ready to move, including an offer for Collin Sexton.
Sexton has been a part of a number of rumors, from a Donovan Mitchell trade to landing with the Detroit Pistons, Pacers, or more. Those rumors could turn to actions now that the league understands Durant isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.