CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous, unrelated story.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won't tip off their 2021-22 season until Wednesday when they face the Memphis Grizzlies, but they didn't have to wait until then to make their first headline of the week.
According to numerous reports, the Cavs and guard Collin Sexton failed to come to terms on a long-term deal by Monday's 6 p.m. deadline. That deadline was for former first-round picks entering their fourth seasons to sign contract extensions.
The 22-year-old Sexton will have the ability to become a restricted free agent following the upcoming season. From there, he could either sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Cavs and become an unrestricted free agent in 2023 or sign a contract offer from another team, which Cleveland would have the ability to match.
Selected out of Alabama with the No. 8 pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, Sexton has been a polarizing player throughout his three seasons with the Cavs. While his numbers have been impressive -- he averaged 24.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting (37.1 percent from 3-point range) last season -- there have been questions about his ability to contribute to a winning team and fit alongside point guard Darius Garland.
Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Sunday, Cavs general manager Koby Altman discussed Cleveland's desire to sign Sexton to a long-term contract.
"We obviously want him around long-term," Altman said. "I can't get too deep into the discussions, but he's from an intangible standpoint, from the fact he wanted to be in Cleveland, Ohio, and help us grow this thing from the start, he's gotten better every single year and at 22-years-old [he] averaged 24 points per game on an efficient shooting -- he's about what we want to be about. A gritty, tough group that loves to be here and wants to push this thing forward.
"I can't say enough good things about Collin and his intangibles and what he brings to the table and what he wants to do here. So, we're working through it, but he knows this is his home and we want to have him here."