Instant Reaction: Cavs on The Lowe Post (or, Sexton Part Infinity)
2022-08-01Now that the calendar has turned to August, it officially begins the nadir of the NBA life cycle. Summer League is over, and free agency has ground down to a halt. Luckily for Cavs fans, Zach Lowe of “The Lowe Post” performed a deep dive on the Cavs with Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. Here’s what should catch Cavs’ fans attention…
1. Will he or won’t he?
Clearly the biggest question surrounding the Cavs at the present is a resolution to the Collin Sexton restricted free agency odyssey. To date, no team has made a satisfactory offer to Sexton’s team, including the Cavs themselves. Fedor confirmed on the podcast that all indications are that Sexton is willing to play under the qualifying offer to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason. He’d rather do that than take the security of $40 million dollars of backup player NBA money. It’s a risky move on Sexton’s part, and the past shows (see: Nerlens Noel) that making that kind of move leaves money on the table. I’m 100% in agreement with Lowe that the smart move for Sexton would be to seek a 2+1 year deal with a player option for the third year. However, Sexton’s team is willing to bet big at this point.
I’ve argued and will continue to argue that the Cavs would welcome Sexton playing on the qualifying offer, for a variety of reasons. The biggest thing is that it maximizes the Cavs’ cap space flexibility going into next offseason. With a couple of marginal moves, the Cavs can theoretically have over $30 million to spend below the salary cap next offseason, not an insignificant amount. Fedor opined that the Cavs wouldn’t say no to welcoming one LeBron James into that space without having to give up a thing.
Another reason why the Cavs would welcome a QO deal with Sexton is that it frees up Coach J.B. Bickerstaff to create some competition at the guard spots. Gone are the days of “player development” (aka tanking) minutes to young, struggling players. What the Cavs discovered last season was a lot of success particularly when Darius Garland played alongside Ricky Rubio, whose game is all about passing and defense. Rubio’s game is the polar opposite of Young Bull, who looks to score and do little else. As bad as Caris LeVert’s individual stats were with the Cavs last season, the DG/LeVert backcourt still easily outplayed Sexland:
As the data shows, DG and LeVert are a championship caliber offense that needs a lot of improvement on defense. However keep in mind that many of the DG/LeVert minutes came without Jarrett Allen, who was injured. It’s not crazy for some in the organization to be intrigued about what DG/LeVert pairing can be. Also apparent is how Sexland continued to be a losing proposition. Below are the numbers over their entire tenure:
If Sexton takes the backup money offer or qualifying offer, hopefully it leads to the merciful ending of Sexland basketball. And it’s interesting that there’s no one among Cavs’ fandom online, except yours truly, who wants to ask the important questions such as “what if Collin Sexton is amazing sixth man? What if sixth man is the role Sexton was born to play?” Among all the screeching about Sexton its always so extreme… “oh he sucks and will never contribute to winning” or “Sexton is better Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell.” Consider yours truly “The Enlightened Collin Sexton Centrist.” I believe there’s a pathway to winning basketball for Young Bull, and it will look a lot like Jordan Poole or Tyler Herro. Both were major contributors to winning for their respective teams and both were placed in the role of sixth man off the bench. So, consider this henceforth the Collin Sexton for Sixth Man of the Year Agenda, coming to an arena near you!
2. Rest in Paradise Bill Russell
A message for us all. RIP. pic.twitter.com/YsyYcyd8P2
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) July 31, 2022
3. Two Cleveland legends chopping it up
Appreciate the shoutout @KingJames too bad we weren’t able play together…we would have killed it!
— Mark Price (@Mark25Price) July 24, 2022
4. Sound off below
So, Commentariat… how do you think the Sexton saga ends? Do you think he signs an extension or qualifying offer? Do you think he gets traded? Sound off below and GO CAVS!
Podcast up!
SOME ‘CARRY OVER ” INTO THE SEASON FROM THAT PERFORMANCE WOULD BE REAL NICE ——ATTA BOY LAURI
you go Lauri!
DAMN LEBRON IS ‘ CLOSING ” IN ON MY FINANCIAL FIGURES :-)………….” MORE BEER PLEASE AND- YES- ALSO MORE MONEY PLEASE “
Really fun game in the 4th between NY and Chicago tonight. If you don’t watch WNBA regularly, the playoffs have just started. It’s a great time to give it a shot.
Thanks for the heads up!
Playoff Cavs agenda full steam ahead!!!
https://twitter.com/NBACouchside/status/1560004851735711746?s=20&t=k2qW_2PQplml9GiJSpt1Vw
Lebron signed the extension, so that should put a cork in the Cavs chatter
Interesting.
Cannot see any way the Lakers can put a decent team around him.
Maybe LeBron is following KI’s and KD’s example: sign a top dollar extension, and then refuse to play, and force a trade to somewhere half decent, while still gobbling up millions.
THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION BUCKAROO IS “YES “
i figured.. rock (and rolling) on NOMAD bro.. if you haven’t listened to govt mule (with warren haynes) play simple man, check some of the performances on ytube.. this will do the trick..”Gov’t Mule (Warren Haynes) – Simple man (Lynyrd Skynyrd – One More For The Fans)”
Gov’t Mule is good stuff.
Although R&R and Blues don’t top the charts much anymore, this is actually a golden age in that there are all kinds of really good bands playing — and you can see them in clubs, which is a lot better than in stadiums. One of the many in NE Ohio is Armstrong & Bearcats. They have been great for decades, and are even better now.
i will check them out.. thx raoul bro
WOW CLF—-PUT THAT GAME–( HOPING THEY HAVE MORE )—ON MY BUCKET LIST
NOMAD bro.. are you a freebird or simple man type of dude ?
WOW –JUST WATCHED THE PRE GAME –FIELD OF DREAMS GAME –SHOW—-ALOT OF TEARS FLOWING——–JUST SAID A PRAYER TO// FOR MY DAD—-TEXT ALL MY SONS—-GOING OUTSIDE AND PLAY CATCH WITH THE GRANDKIDS AND THEN THE ” OTHER GREAT AMERICA PASTIME “……..” MORE BEER PLEASE ” !!!
hell yeah NOMAD! my brother in law went to the game!
lol. 100%
Man, this Durant stuff is ridiculous. So glad I’m not a fan dealing with that circus.
Agree.
As a Midwesterner, always enjoy trouble for NY teams.
What a “Perfect Storm” of high profile head cases all on one team: Burner Phone Durant, Flat Earth Kyrie, and Hurt Feelings Simmons. Golden Turd Harden is likable compared to these clowns — at least he comes to play.
He is a class 1 @$$hole. Selfish. Childish. Clique-ish. The Nets gave he & Kyrie everything they wanted (Harden, DJ over Allen, fired Atkinson, etc) and now b/c they wanted his buddy Kyrie, to, you know, actually play before they paid him, he is wrecking the entire org despite just signing the extension. FWIW, no way he is a top 20 all-timer, IMHO. Leaning towards outside top 25: MJ, Russell, Kareem, Bron, Wilt, Magic, Bird, Mikan, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Curry, Oscar, Logo, Dr. J, Dream, Moses, & Havlicek have to be ahead of him. I’d also take Pettit, Zeke, Cousy,… Read more »
HEY BUCKAROO —RECENT STUDIES // SURVEYS SHOW —YOUNGER GENERATION APRECIATING ” OUR GENERATIONS ” MUSIC ——–” MORE BEER PLEASE “—–THERE IS HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION :-)
NOMAD bro.. put on your 33 LP of marshall tucker and kick back with a few ice cold rocks.. and maybe pull out your bell bottoms and have a dosie-do with the mrs NOMAD.. and maybe roll a fatty while you are traveling down memory lane.. just don’t carry your stash into the dallas airport.. poor shump
go shump.. good job.. always enjoyable watching the wheels fall off.. idiots provide so much free humor..
hope he is not in too much trouble. he is a likable guy. good thing he is not in Russia.
there is a big problem with the various levels of laws against pot — a lot of people don’t know what is legal and what is not. Imam apparently declared it as he was going through airport security, must have thought NBD.
Crazy that people are declaring it and trying to be honest about what they are carrying and getting into trouble. Whereas I just put it in my bag and walk through security without a problem. Only domestic travel though.
don’t try that in Russia
They don’t mind if you’re a clean-cut white man. SMH…
They were looking for a hostage. Most Americans got out ASAP when they invaded Ukraine.
Wrong place, wrong time.
again i think Cavs sign Sexton as they want to keep him –he was first draft pick since Lebron left (again) and they want to keep this core as long as they can.
Sexton might have been the first pick of the current crew, but he is no longer part of the core.
Good read! Based on how much time has passed, I don’t see him signing a multi-year team friendly deal. Hopefully I’m wrong. It serves the Cavs and CS to sign something now and then come to grips with the future (starter, bench play, a trade, etc) later. If he comes out of the gate scoring buckets, teams will reach out.
the time passed is just because he and/or Klutch think someone will give him a max deal.
This is highly unlikely to happen, but they might as well wait as long as they can and hope to get lucky. Stranger things.
In the likely event no one makes such a move, Sexton/Klutch will have to decide between the (2+1)/40 M, and the minimum 1/7.5 (or whatever). 3/40 is not necessarily “Team Friendly”, it is more like a realistic offer.
Thanks DaveR as always! Good point about possibly doing something in-season.
Thanks for this Chris!
Of course Nate!!! Had to post something, Zach Lowe did a great job with his Cavs’ knowledge wanted to show some love!
yeah that was truly enjoyable to listen to, always used to read his articles before the paywall. dude just knows his bball! Fedor also has some good insights and does a decent job towing the line between team mouthpiece and journalist observer.
Yeah, he does… he’s on the Dean Wade train so I can’t hate!!!
Yup, some good info from Fedor as usual… working the sources like a pro.
ONE THING I WAM GOING TO THROW OUT THERE —AND IT PROBABLY REALLY ISN’T RELEVANT TO THE ARTICLE BUT IS SEXTON RELATED —-IT A[PPEARS KOBY’S EVALUATION IN SEXTON HAS DIMINSHED SINCE HE DRAFTED HIM AHEAD OF SIR G AND OTHERS WHO WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER FIT RIGHT NOW THAN SEXTON—-THOUGHTS ?
I would hope any evaluation would be adjusted after three years of “ground truth” in the pros.
Oh, I was already on record it should’ve been SGA chosen instead of Sexton.
But you’re right, credit does go to Koby for re-assessing… at least the max contract for Sexton talk is longer prevalent, those were some dark times!
I’m with you Chris on Sexton having a path to being a net positive player. His efficiency was good in 2020, he wasn’t just a chucker. Advanced stats aren’t always kind to shooting guards, but he did manage a +1 VORP that year which is solid. He’s also only a year older than Ochai, even though he’ll be going into his 5th season. If you can sign him now you’re buying some of his athletic prime; most NBA players give positive returns in those year 25-29 seasons.
Yeah, well said TTM, esp about keeping him during his athletic prime.
I think Sexton could become a player that contributes to winning……..but I doubt it. And he certainly is not one now.
Further, he is a terrible PG. And we don’t really have a F/C type to initiate offense or run offense thru. Or really even a bug guard. I mean, Love a touch. LeVert a touch. Mobley not there yet. Nor Okoro. One of DG/Rubio needed to be on the court at all times or the wheels came off.
So that means one of DG/Neto/Rubio on court with Sexton at virtually all times. Which means LeVert, Okoro, or Agbaji cannot be at the two (though each can play some 3).
Only 1 of that trio + can be on the court at a time with Sexton. If Markkannen/Wade/Stevens want to join, they have to be at PF or bump one of Ice/Agbaji/LeVert.
Long story short, he takes minutes away from other guys who contribute more to winning, IMHO. So, he should mot get a ton of minutes. I think he signs the QO & gets traded at the deadline.
there we go, I do love some trade slop Jason!
Agree: Sexton MIGHT prove to be valuable on a contending team. But I doubt it.
Sexton DOES HAVE value for a tanking team: fun, scores a lot, probably helps attendance. And — helps lose a lot of games.
The thing that jumped out at me after listening to that episode of Lowe Post was the stat Zach brought up about Okoro. They talked about how at first glance his 3 point numbers look ok, until you consider the fact that he led the league in being left wide open (forget what they refer to that as, but basically tracks the distance of the nearest defender).
yeah I know right? credit to Okoro for improving but it’s just not at a fast rate with enough versatility.
Right. Just alarming how defenses can completely ignore him with no penalty. Fedor also pointed out how many wide open shots he passes up. I like Isaac but he’s got a long way to go to be more than just a role player.
yup, i also think the Cavs’ development staff made an error in terms of completely ignoring any type of midrange game for him first… then extend his range from there.
He cannot drive effectively if no one closes out on him, or even guards him.
If he becomes adept enough that they have to honor him, the drive game opens up. With more confidence, attempts should go up.
Having said that, I don’t mind him passing up 3s if someone else is also open from deep (Love, DG, Lauri, Agbaji) or inside (JA, Mobes, Love).
yup, he had some good moments driving and kicking, remember one to Lauri in particular.
Good writeup, and I agree with all the points. Sexton is in a bad position agent wise. Klutch seems to be following the Scott Boras model: Have some ultra top end players. Play hardball on all contracts. Let the bottom end guys (like Sexton) sit out a year and get screwed to show what a tough organization you are, and recoup the money (for the agent) by getting max deals for the top end players, like LeBron. that is what happened with Noels. A modest 2+1 deal would be the best case for everyone. If Sexton never gets any better,… Read more »
Thanks Raoul as always!
I don’t see any reason for the Cavs to offer anything other than the QO now. Maybe Sexton turns into a winning sixth man, but how much money and years do you want to tie up making that bet? It’s also possible that Sexton plays well off the bench but still doesn’t quite fit with the Cavs needs, and a QO contract would be easier to move at the deadline in that case.
yeah, I think the 3/40 the Cavs were offering was the right move. I do think if Sexton signs the QO he gets a no-trade clause, but I could be wrong about that.
DITTTO WHAT MIKEO POSTED——RIP BILL —YOU ARE TRULY A LEGEND ON AND OFF THE COURT –AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL ATHLETES TO FOLLOW !!!!
Amen NOMAD
I’m with Lowe as well. I think the smart thing for him to do is do a 2+1 player option, if it’s on the table. No player wants to think about it happening, but Sexton could suffer another bad injury, be out for another year, and regret that he didn’t take the guaranteed money when it was offered. Not saying I expect another injury or anything, but it’s something that can always happen to any player. Sexton the 6th man is a fine idea, but then you have to consider how much salary cap you want to allocate for that.… Read more »
Yup… can’t disagree here.
Decision making is not exactly Sexton’s strong suit.
I expect he signs the QO.
haha!