3toheadmelo wrote:Wish they made the deal official already
Meanwhile, in Cleveland media today...
https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/07/collin-sexton-trade-a-possibility-for-the-cleveland-cavaliers-its-complicated.htmlThe Cavs still like Sexton and believe in him. Sources say they’ve put a hefty price tag on him, which could make a deal challenging, and The Athletic identified the New York Knicks as the “most aggressive” trade suitor on Tuesday. The New York Post confirmed Sexton as a player on the Knicks’ radar, even saying he would’ve been their draft pick three years ago had Cleveland not nabbed him one slot earlier.
Cleveland and New York have discussed possibilities, sources say, and it’s an obvious potential trade destination. The Knicks are one of many teams monitoring the situation.
A surprising playoff party crasher this past season, the Knicks ranked 22nd in offensive efficiency during the regular season -- and those struggles became their undoing in the postseason, ranking second-last among 16 qualifiers. Sexton would give them a needed shot-creator, someone to take pressure off Most Improved Player Julius Randle, especially with guards Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, Frank Ntilikina and Alec Burks headed for free agency.
Sexton is a client of CAA, the agency that Knicks president Leon Rose ran until last season, and is also well-known by former Cavaliers executive Brock Aller, who was in Cleveland when decision-makers fell in love with Sexton following an eye-popping pre-draft workout.
But what kind of package could New York assemble?
The Cavs were smitten with RJ Barrett ahead of the 2019 draft. They even tried trading up a few spots, sources say. Barrett is reportedly not viewed as untouchable, considered a potential trade centerpiece if the Knicks go star hunting. Coming off a strong sophomore season in which the 21-year-old averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while hitting 40.1% from 3-point range and started all 72 games, it’s hard to see the Knicks parting with him for Sexton -- and then agreeing to give Sexton a massive contract.
Power forward Obi Toppin, a player Cleveland considered at No. 5 before choosing Isaac Okoro in the draft last November, doesn’t make much sense for a team that already has more than $40 million invested in Larry Nance Jr. and Kevin Love and could be adding Evan Mobley with the third pick in a few weeks. The Knicks do have a pair of 2021 first-rounders (Nos. 19 and 21), but those are sweeteners as opposed to headliners of a deal. So, who else? Reclamation project Knox? Even packaging all three together would give the Cavs essentially a trio of backups for Sexton.
Think about it more and the Knicks don’t make for the ideal trade partner. Unless Barrett is involved, sending Sexton to New York would be Cleveland making a lateral move -- or perhaps taking a step backward.
