The Cleveland Cavaliers selected former University of Alabama point guard Collin Sexton with the eighth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. It was a good pick, by most accounts, and it sounds like Cavs general manager Koby Altman is not interested in trading his new ball handler away.
“I think every expectation is to keep him,” Altman told Chris Fedor of cleveland.com on Friday morning. “I think we’ve gone through a long process this year of scouting him. Obviously he’s a talented, talented point guard who can score, can get into the lane, he’s athletic, he has upside. I think his shooting is improving. But what we’re trying to be about in Cleveland right now is guys with great attitude, great work ethic and then guys that really want to be here.
“When I called him tonight, he wanted to run here. You can tell — he exploded out of the phone with how much he wanted to be here,” Altman continued. “That’s meaningful to us, that’s meaningful for the city and how we want to have this organization. Guys that are sort of that attitude drive and that want to be here. And obviously that are super talented. We’re excited about Collin.”
After meeting with commissioner Adam Silver on-stage for a handshake and photo-op, Sexton sat down for an interview with ESPN. He was asked to make a pitch to LeBron James, who may or may not be with the Cavs next season. The 19-year-old ball handler seemed excited at the notion of playing alongside the King.
“Make your pitch to LeBron James to stay in Cleveland with you,” ESPN’s Maria Taylor said to Sexton.
“Let’s do it, LeBron,” Sexton replied. “Let’s get back to the Finals.”
Sexton is a gifted young guard, to be sure. In his 33 appearances with the Crimson Tide last season, the former SEC Freshman of the Year turned in averages of 19.2 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field (33.6 percent from beyond the arc), 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 29.9 minutes per.
Join us in welcoming Collin Sexton to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fans of the team can tune in to his introductory press conference on Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST via Cavs.com.