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Report: Sexton, Cavs remain at standstill on new contract

Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Restricted free agent Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers are at a standstill in talks on a new contract, although the negotiations haven't been contentious, sources told Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor.

The Cavaliers are reportedly looking to give the former No. 8 pick a three-year, $40-million deal, which isn't enough for Sexton and his agent, Rich Paul, Fedor adds.

Sexton is one of the best players remaining on the free-agent market more than one month after the offseason began.

The 23-year-old Alabama product is one full season removed from finishing 18th league-wide in scoring at 24.3 points per game. His 2021-22 campaign was cut short after 11 games due to a knee injury.

With Sexton out of the lineup, the Cavaliers thrived by letting fellow backcourt member Darius Garland run the show offensively and allowing big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to protect the paint. Cleveland went from a .306 winning percentage in Sexton's prolific scoring season to .537 last year, adding its first playoff appearance since 2018.

Still, Sexton's career average of 20 points per game is significantly higher than both the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson and the Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons, two similarly aged players at the same position who earned deals worth upward of $20 million annually this offseason.

The Cavaliers cannot offer more than the approximately $13 million per year they're hoping to give Sexton without dipping into the luxury tax.

As a restricted free agent, Sexton could also accept his qualifying offer of $7.2 million and hit the open market next offseason.

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