Cavaliers Rumors: Collin Sexton Has 'No Market' in FA; CLE 'Hopeful' for New Contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers are "still hopeful and optimistic" they can agree to a new deal with restricted free agent Collin Sexton, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

Per that report, "potential Sexton suitors continue to dwindle, with few cap-space teams capable of giving him the lucrative offer he covets and one the Cavs wouldn't want to match."

"He has no market," a league executive told Fedor.

According to that report, the Cavaliers are interested in a deal that would pay Sexton a yearly figure in the "low-to-mid teens," while the point guard is seeking at least $20 million per year.

Given that gulf—and a reported lack of suitors willing to pay him his desired figure or teams with the cap space to make such a deal—Sexton likely has three main options:

• Try to find a sign-and-trade option on the market. This would require a team having interest in Sexton but not the cap space to sign him to an offer sheet. It would also require the Cavaliers agreeing to the deal, however.
• Sign Cleveland's best offer. Sexton could always push for fewer years to hit free agency sooner, in an attempt to improve his value with strong performances on the court.
• Sign the $7.2 million qualifying offer for this upcoming season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. While it would be a gamble to give up long-term dollars, a strong year could see Sexton recoup his value in free agency and receive offers in the $20 million-per-year range he's reportedly seeking after one year.

Sexton, 23, appeared in just 11 games last season because of a torn meniscus. For his career, he's averaged 20.0 points and 3.3 assists per game, showing the ability to score at a high level as a lead guard, though there are questions about how his size (6'1" and 190 lbs) and defensive deficiencies would play in the postseason. More than likely, opposing teams would hunt him.

Still, he has value as an injection of instant offense, either off the bench for the Cavaliers behind ascending star Darius Garland or for a veteran team looking for more scoring. Apparently, however, he doesn't have enough value to have a vibrant free-agency market this summer, or at least not at the figure he's hoping to receive.