Why the Dallas Mavericks cannot acquire Collin Sexton: Where does he end up?

Why the Dallas Mavericks cannot acquire Collin Sexton

The Mavs do not have the cap space to sign Sexton outright, so their only avenue to acquiring him is a sign-and-trade. Base-year compensation complicates the trade itself but executing a sign-and-trade hard caps the team acquiring the free agent. That means Dallas would be unable to spend over the $156.9 million tax apron for next season.

In addition to giving up assets for Sexton and paying him $20 million per season over the next four years, the Mavericks would have to trim their payroll. They are currently projected to spend $163.1 million without Sexton’s $20 million, so Dallas would need to cut over $26 million to acquire the 23-year-old guard.

Both Cleveland and the Mavericks are over the salary cap, so the Cavaliers will not be taking back these salaries. Dallas would need to ship roughly $10 million to Cleveland and send the other $16 million to Indiana or San Antonio. Either team is going to want a first-round picks to satisfy the use of their space. So now the price for Sexton is $33 million in salary and at least two first-round picks.

If the Mavericks could convince the Cavaliers to take Dwight Powell and a draft pick for Collin Sexton, they would only need to send Tim Hardaway Jr. or Davis Bertans and a draft pick to Indiana or San Antonio to acquire the restricted free agent guard. There is no way Dallas is paying that price to acquire Collin Sexton. Two first-round picks are just too much.