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Phil Long / Associated Press
The "Brooklyn Choice" announced for the Cleveland Cavaliers is dead. Long live the new leader of the Cavs Sexton Cavs.
Nearly 10 months after the team has acquired its crown jewel of the Kyrie Irving craft, we have a face to put on with it. Sexton is the Cavs draft pick since Andrew Wiggins finished first overall in 2014 and will be either the key to a rebuild or a two-way immediate contributor to a promising team.
"For me, the play was really key," Cleveland chief executive Koby Altman told reporters. "I think there were very good players in this draft, I think that there was really good wings in this draft, but it was a need and at that moment, you absolutely want to take the best talent, but when aligns it's a very good thing, and we were lucky that it was there. "
Unlike Wiggins when Cleveland exchanged it for Kevin Love four years ago, Sexton will probably stay with the Cavs. Altman and head coach Tyronn Lue believe that he can contribute to a team that has participated in four consecutive finals, even at the age of 19.
Altman told reporters:
"I think every expectation is to keep him, I think we've had a long process this year to spot him, he's obviously a talented and talented leader who can score, get in the way, he's athletic I think his Shooting improves, but what we are trying to do in Cleveland right now, is the guys with a good attitude, a good work ethic and then the guys who really want to be here. "
Sexton clearly wants to be with the Cavs, but what about this other guy? Much of Sexton's role and development depends on where LeBron James will play next season.
Despite being a rookie, Sexton is exactly the type of player that the Cavaliers could have used two weeks ago when the Golden State Warriors took them out of the finals.
Uncredited / Associated Press
James had to do a lot of ball handling, scoring and facilitating, thanks to the absence of Irving for the first time in his most recent Cleveland Finals run. Injuries to goaltender George Hill (back) and Love (concussion) throughout the playoffs put even more pressure on James, who saw his teammates like Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood shrivel up under the playoff lights .
James' use rate (35.0) was the third highest of his 13 playoff trips. Over the years, his team has won a title, these ratings have dropped to an average of 31.1%. With James turning 34 in December of year 16, it is imperative that the Cavs help him play.
That's where Sexton comes in.
Self-described As a mix between John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Russell Westbrook, Sexton uses his modest size but exceptional athleticism to enter the paint and put pressure on a defense.
Much of his damage is done on the pick-and-roll, where he ranked in the 87th percentile with 0.957 points per possession. His 5.5 points per game in these scenarios ranked second in the SEC.
Cleveland ran a lot of 1-3 and 1-5 pick-and-rolls with Hill at point guard and James or love as the screener. While Hill is a top outside shooter, Sexton gives Cleveland someone who can split defenders and seek a touch in the paint or kick an open shooter.
With his quick first step and initial brilliance, Sexton can attract attention when he beats his first opponent. He does not leave the defenses any choice but to drop a second man to help and recognize the situation and find the free teammate.
Apart from James, no Cavalier does it regularly. Clarkson has athleticism to attract the seriousness of defense, but suffers from tunnel vision and too often forces a disputed shot. Hill is smart enough to find the man open, but at age 32 does not have sexton's initial speed blast.
"I think what could have helped [LeBron] "It was another playmaker, another guy who was putting pressure on the defense," Altman told reporters. "And Collin is explosive, he can get into painting, he can get things moving, he's fast in transition, and I think he can take LeBron's charge a little bit and still," he says.
Apart from the pick-and-roll, Sexton thrives in transition, which is when he can use his speed and his quick turnaround.
His Alabama head coach, Avery Johnson, described him as "the fastest guy I've ever seen with basketball," on Kevin Garnett. Area 21. It's a eulogy, given that Johnson has spent more than 23 years as an NBA player and head coach. Cleveland was the second slowest team in the league averaging 4.05 miles per hour.
More than 23% of Sexton's attack is in transition, where he scores at a rate of 1,099 points per possession. He uses his speed mix and a wingspan of 6 "7 ½" to finish in front, through or around defenders.
It plays in the way the Cavaliers want to run. A healthy 17.5 percent of Cleveland's total offense was executed in transition, the fourth highest mark in the NBA. Obviously, this could be affected by James' presence, but even a rebuilding team with Sexton, Clarkson, Cedi Osman, Hood and Larry Nance Jr. should seek to run at every opportunity.
On the other side of the ball, Sexton brings a huge defensive potential.
The former Cleveland team finished 29th in defense in 2017-18, which allowed him to accumulate 109.5 points for 100 possessions. Even after their February rotation, the Cavs defense rating (108.9) remained similar. After seeing the torches of opposing guards Derrick Rose, Isaiah Thomas and Jose Calderon every night, fans will welcome Sexton and other Hill stopovers. Lue could even play them together, given their 6 & # 39; 7 ½"and 6" 9 "wingspans, respectively.
The infusion of a hungry young talent who wants to defend and face confrontations personally will be a change of pace for these Cavs, who for the most part are looking at each other and throwing their collective arms while they're out there. another dull effort gives an easy look.
"[Sexton] will defend; he will rise to the challenge, "said Altman," in this league, it is so difficult to keep people. You will not close the toughest players in the world. You just are not. But you can make it difficult for them; you can make it difficult for them. "
Having someone like Sexton to set the tone with his effort and intensity is something that the Cavs have not had since Matthew Dellavedova, who left in 2016. Sexton can bottle the same energy, but in a more talented executive.
Was writing Sexton enough to make James stay? NBA leaders told B / R Ken Berger that it is not likely. If Cleveland makes other moves, though, and James returns, he will have a new teammate who will plug some of the Cavaliers' holes and accelerate their transition from good to big.
Sexton should prosper as a member of the Cavs, either as a supporting actor or leading man.
Greg Swartz covers the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA for Bleacher Report. Statistics provided by NBA.com and Basketball Reference unless otherwise stated.
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