TRADE: DM to CLE | Markkanen + Sexton + Agbaji + 3 1sts + 2 swaps to UTA

[KillerLeft]

I thought this was an interesting nugget from Hollinger on Sexton:


"So why four years and $72 million for Sexton? Because that was the only number that worked.

On the Jazz’s end, they couldn’t pay him any more without putting other players in the deal. The most 2022-23 salary Sexton could make in this version of the trade was $17,545,911. Sending another player from Utah to Cleveland to increase that amount would have put the Cavs perilously close to the luxury tax. As ever, having an upper limit set by outside forces is an expedient way to push contract negotiations to their conclusion."

I'm pretty intrigued by the Sexton situation from a number of angles. Like this, for example: He clearly turned down offers for his worth according to league consensus (much lower than this, apparently) hoping to get a payday. I suppose you could argue that he got it, though for all we know he was aiming for a max. No accounting for how these guys view themselves. 

I wonder, is he happy today, knowing he got paid and feeling like he bet on himself and won, or is he pissed that he'll have to go to Utah and win 20 games next year to get it?

Would this same deal have been available a month ago, or did it happen because someone was finally successful in communicating to Sexton "look, this is your last chance at anything remotely resembling the kind of offer you want"? I think that type of stuff is fascinating.