The Cleveland Cavaliers reeled in point guard Collin Sexton in the recently concluded 2018 NBA Draft in hopes to make up some ground after the team took several steps back with LeBron James leaving them for Los Angeles. BetOnline.ag ranked Sexton with the fourth-best odds to win the coveted Rookie of the Year award this season.
It’s no surprise that Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks ranked first in the odds, while top overall pick Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns came in second. Surprisingly, New York Knicks’ 9th overall pick Kevin Knox was third on the list, followed by Sexton at fourth. Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr and Sacramento Kings’ second overall pick Marvin Bagley tied for the fifth spot.
Still reeling from their Finals loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Cavs took another big hit when LeBron decided to take his talents to Hollywood. Although their roster won’t be as bad as when James left them in 2010, the team badly needs a floor general, a role that LeBron took upon himself to fulfill.
Enter the 6-foot-3 point guard out of Alabama and you have one of the most intriguing and electrifying prospects in the recent draft class. Eric Mullin of NBC Sports provided his take on the unique skill set of Sexton.
“The first thing that jumps off the screen while watching Sexton is the intensity he plays with. He’s Russell Westbrook-like in how passionate he is and it carries into his offensive game. Sexton is a downhill guard that relentlessly attacks the rim on fast breaks and in the half-court, as evidenced by his 7.6 free throw attempts per game. He possesses the handles and quickness to break down defenders and create separation for either a drive or a pull-up. He can use either hand in getting to the rim and finishing there.”
“On defense, he competes on-ball and has the frame (6-7 wingspan) and quickness to be a strong defender that can handle both guard positions.”
As rumors of a George Hill trade are already swirling, Collin Sexton is poised to take the reins of the starting point guard for the Kevin Love-led Cavaliers team.