The Pacers wound up with three players in the draft — lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin and second-rounders Andrew Nembhard and Kendall Brown. Team president Kevin Pritchard has high hopes for the trio, Bob Kravitz of The Athletic writes.
“One of the things I’m absolutely convinced of, these three young men will be a part of this organization for a long time,” Pritchard said. “We wanted to get more athletic, more dynamic and bring some intelligence. All three demonstrated that athleticism and drive to win. The one common denominator is, they all love to play.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers shouldn’t bring back free agent Lance Stephenson, James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star argues. Stephenson is most comfortable with the ball in his hands and the team has an overload of guards and wings — most notably Tyrese Haliburton, T.J. McConnell and Chris Duarte — who are ballhandlers. They added two more in the draft.
- Ricky Rubio, Delon Wright and Tyus Jones are some of the free agents the Cavaliers might consider to back up starting point guard Darius Garland, Kelsey Russo of The Athletic writes.
- Collin Sexton has received a qualifying offer from the Cavaliers, making him a restricted free agent. Garland, who like Sexton is represented by Rich Paul, likes Sexton personally and wants to continue playing with him in Cleveland, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
I personally felt that Mathurin was overrated, and didnt like the pick for them, especially b/c they have Hield and Duarte. Not saying he still isnt a good prospect, but I felt there were better fits for them at 6. I did love what he said the other day though. I wasnt sure about his competitiveness, but that was something a competitor, with irrational confidence would say, and that’s good enough for me for now.
Would have been better off trading down with Hornets for 13 15 if they could
Walk away with AJ Griffin and Eason to give them some forwards
AJ Griffin is who I thought they would take…I think. I have to go check on my computer where my list is lol
Be interesting to see the market for sexton now. Pistons were keen but having got Ivey in the draft I doubt they care anymore. They also just got Burks and Noel which soaks up a lot of the cap space they had.
I think returning back to the Cavs is the most likely but he will probably be used in a 6th man role and not valued enough by them with Garland Mobley and Allen the new faces of the franchise.
I still see him as a starter with potential to unlock. I hope he is willing to take less money and maybe less years in order to find a good opportunity for him. Just for example Washington needs a point guard to play next to Bradley Beal, that team also have Kuzma, KP, Hachimura etc. Sexton could establish himself as a key starter on that side.
Other fits could be New Orleans, Miami via sign and trade (Duncan Robinson and a second), Knicks (if they miss on Brunson) etc
@Simmons
Hi. What’s the harm in letting Sexton be what he is, a shooting guard similar to Beal? He can facilitate too (4.4 apg in 20-20) but let him be an asset on the floor with Garland? I can see those two running and gunning down the floor on fast break with easy lobs or getting their own shots? We aren’t going to attract a 20+ SG via free agency so who’s our starting SG? Levert who’s set to earn 1/$18 mil, the rookie Agbali, Okoro??? SG is a natural fit. Have Levert come of the bench to back up Garland our defend large guards if Sexton is being taken advantage of. But Sexton can drop 30 on anyone. He did it vs the Nets with Harden, Kyrie and Durant all taking him on. I think he scored 40 with the Cavs winning that game.
my dream lineup is to see
Garland/Sexton/Some rotation of Markannen, Agbali, Okoro or Osman/ Mobley/Allen. Coming off bench Love, Levert, Stephens, Wade and another vet PG.
Didnt Wade hurt his knee at the end of the year? Or was that not an ACL?
I like Sexton as a scorer off the bench who plays like 30-32 minutes per game and gets a lot of the possessions in the 2nd unit and plays with certain starters as well. I’ve said this for a few years now. Garland is the PG. And he finally showed more of what were mostly glimpses before the last year or 2, though I think we all thought it was coming. I think they need 1 more shooter, or more consistency from 1 of the guys they currently have, and also another guard defender (maybe that’s Rubio), or to use Okoro in better situations. Also hopefully Levert and Agbaji cam be more consistent as a shooter b/c that answers a lot of their issues right there, and probably makes them a really good team, with their defensive core
…just realized I forgot about Markannen again for some reason. He was a lot better than expected last year. If he can knock down more shots that would be a big deal. He should be capable of that. Also I cant wait ti see Mobley continue to evolve. Huge fan of him when I was learning the draft guys before last year’s draft. Chris Bosh
@formerly
Hi. Yes, partial meniscus tear in his right knee. Happened in March. Not sure when he’s back.
Yes, clearly Garland is the starting PG. No issues there. Sexton could and should be the starting SG. It seemed a natural fit. Garland is the ONLY offense we had outside of the big guys banging in the post. Without Garland on the floor there’s no creativity, there’s no ball movement there’s nothing. Sexton can be alternate for scoring whether alongside each other. Definitely would like to see them together more.
And as we’ve discussed many times over the last couple of years, in this same discussion, I’m not suggesting they wouldnt have minutes on the floor together. I just think both would thrive with Sexton in a Tyler Herro type of role
Offense in the starting unit was definitely an issue, and that is a product of spacing, especially when you’re playing multiple bigs together, as I alluded to. You also dont want to risk the issue of too many guys that need the ball in their hands on the floor at once, like the Knicks had
If that’s the case, he should probably be back at least around December, maybe even for the beginning of the season, which does help their spacing. Obviously Kevin Love is really useful, as they are right now, so he kind of mitigates a lot of those issues regardless
@formerly
Not arguing with you but wouldn’t 3 outside shooters (all 3 of Garland, Markkanen and Sexton have been .358 <in there last season played) with Mobley and hood midrange game and Allen in the post be a pretty good lineup to me.
Even though Markannen played really well last year, and a lot better than I expected for sure, I’m not sure how much that lineup works into the future, in terms of being more conducive to winning the way the league currently is. I do like the fact its different, and so you have to think in different ways with that. I feel like I’d rather have the more versatile options though, and use Kevin Love, unless you think he might leave after this season…
They also have Wade and Lamar Steven’s, and Agbaji, and even Cedi, who all do different things at the 4, although they play multiple positions, as do essentially everyone on this roster…
I like Garland, with a defensive guard that can also playmake, like Okoro, with a scorer/shooter on the wrong, Mobely, and Allen to start, although I think there is something to be saod for the idea of maybe by next year, Mobley just straight up starts at center with more shooting/versatile defense around him and Garland, but i dont think that’s necessary now b/c of the big rotation, with Allen being as good as he is, but also Love off the bench, and figuring out what to do with Markannen…
The other option, which probably makes slightly more sense now, is actually Garland with a defender who can shoot at the 2, a scorer/shooter that can defend at the 3, Mobely,Agbago/Wade/Stevens/Okoro/Cedi/Markannen at the 4, and Allen/Mobley/love at the 5…with Sextom, Love, Okoro, Wade/Markannen/Cedi/upgraded shooter, Agbaji….
Kind of easier for me to talk about this than type it though, and it is obvious they have a versatile enough roster right now where this all comes up, especially with defenders. It’s a really strong foundation, in my opinion, which you couldn’t have said 2 years ago…essentially I think they need another shooter, or better shooting from guys they already have who are capable
The reason I like Sexton off the bench, I think over talked about before, but if you have Garland, Mobley, and Levert on the floor, plus whoever the other guy is, and then have Sexton, he is someone who needs the ball in his hands, and him having the balleams those other guys dont, and that also just takes away from Sexton himself. That’s why if you bring him in that 2ns unit, you can give it to him almost all the time, and let him go off. It also makes it tougher for them defensively, even though they have those other defenders on the floor. You need point of attack defense, even with someone as great as Mobley there
Not sure I articulated any of this that well. It’s been a rough couple of days health wise, and my eyes stopped working for me today a couple of hours ago lol
Sexton is not a pg…
He is a SG that is 6 1.
Elite 3x level scorer.
Whether he starts or is 6th man, the ? Will he be on floor in crunch time.
Sexton needs to improve his Def. The dude literally will jump out of way so he isn’t in photo op. He needs to learn to take charges & read passing lanes. He has athleticism.
He also needs to reduce TOs. And not force it. His mid range is deadly. He needs to improve his 3pt shot 25% don’t cut it.
But Sexton ain’t 20mil Guy. Period.
Look at Rozier 4yr 80mil. That deal is a bad deal & cha can’t move it. It’s a neg asset.
$15 – $16mil a yr. I say 5yr 80mil is best he will get.
He put up inflated #s on 50loss teams guys.
Cle will match any offer & I think Cle brings him back at 16mil per yr.
I don’t see any team giving him 20mil.
Collin Sexton is a career 38% shooter from 3. That man can score from all 3 levels. The issue with starting him is it really breaks down our defense. As someone said earlier, it’s clear now, especially with the All-Star caliber season Garland had, that he’s best suited for the bench. In a Tyler Herro type role, where he and Love would be the main focus on offense. With Abaji playing 3-D.
Cavs right now lack another solid big man that can stand that second unit up when Mobley and Allen rest. They also need to see what they can get for Levert. I can’t see him and Sexton meshing at all. And of the two, I rather have Sexton.
The cavs should sign and trade Sexton to a contender or a team desperate to be a contender like the Lakers. His stats will just go down, and he’ll cost a lot more starting next year, so I don’t really see much benefit to resigning him if I was running the Cavs. Jazz, Hawks, Sixers, Nuggets are all hypothetical fits that are over the cap and could use the scoring punch.
@gabriel
Lakers have nothing to offer. Why would you expect his numbers to “go down”?
Here is a deal for Cavs..
LA = Gets Kyrie Irving
Nets = Get Russ, THT, Nunn 2x 1sts in 26 & 28 unprotected…
Best LA can offer to get Ky..
KD already got Ben Simmons a bad shooter & wants no part of wanting to play w Russ.
So 3rd team needed…
Nets gwt kys replacement in Sexton.
Nets seen 1st hand what Sexton can do when he lead comeback win & dropped 40+ on kd & KY last year.
Sexton paired w Simmons is scary bc Simmons Def & passing. Nets backcourt set 10+ yrs.
But it gets better, to make $ work Love is sent to Nets.
Nets have to give up assets C Thomas & 2x fut in 27 & 29 unprotected. 4x picks 2x from each team plus prospects.
Cle gets: THT, Nunn, C. Thomas, 4x 1sts 26-29 don’t convey for 4yrs but cle got time.
O yea ofc Cle get Russ to 1yr 47mil. They play him as backup or buy him out if he’s cancer.
Cle has 47mil cap space next yr, and THT & C Thomas are young tradeable assets plus 4x picks.
C Thomas can get buckets too but needs Def improved.
Love & Sexton make Nets contenders. Instead of Blake shooting wide open 3s, Love a sniper will.
Simmons Sexton Harris Love KD
Scary small lineup w kd at 5.
Thoughts?
If the Cavs could get Tyus Jones that would be amazing! But he will be looking for more money and we can’t give him as much as he probably wants. Plus Ricky was amazing with us and we are still likely to bring him back.
On the Collin Sexton side of things, as I’ve been saying he wants to play with us and the team wants him back too. Garland can facilitate the offense while Collin can just get you a bucket when you need it most! They are both very important to our offense!
Cavs need to see what they can get for Levert. Not sure if they could get back a first to replace the one we gave up for him, but that would be nice. I don’t think a team would really value him much after the disastrous post trade performance he put out.
Lack of spacing hurt him