What players make as much as Sexton was offered by Cavs?

What players make as much as Sexton was offered by Cavs? Daniel Gafford

If we are looking for the player in the NBA whose salary and contract most closely match that of the offer to Sexton, then we would land on Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford. The former Arkansas big man was the 38th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played his rookie year and part of his second with the Chicago Bulls before they shipped him off to the Wizards during the Nikola Vucevic trade deadline.

Gafford blossomed in his role with the Wizards and was especially impactful and efficient during their brief playoff run. That strong play earned him a three-year contract extension, worth $40.18 million, or an average of $13.39 million. His deal is nearly spot-on for the contract offered to Sexton.

The Wizards started Gafford for the first half of the year before they acquired Kristaps Porzingis, at which point Gafford slid to the bench and started only when Porzingis is out. The contract the Wizards gave him likely had this in mind, a mid-tier deal for a player who could start but wasn’t overpaid to come off of the bench if that was needed.

That’s likely what the Cavs are thinking with Sexton as well. He is talented enough to start in the right situation, but not with the realities of the Cavs’ roster. $13 million is a doable number for the Cavs to pay a bench player, so that’s what they offered.