Tribe starters are the train coming out of the pitch tunnel: Between Innings
June 21, 20182018 NBA Draft: Ohio State star Keita Bates-Diop goes to Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 48
June 21, 2018Collin Sexton must have (somehow) known. Rockin’ a wine-colored suit, the Alabama point guard was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick in the NBA Draft Thursday night.
Leading up to the No. 8 pick, no one really knew exactly who the Cavaliers would select. It became even more cloudy after Oklahoma point guard Trae Young was take with the fifth overall pick. Whether Sexton was atop the Cavs’ point guard rankings or not, they decided to go with the playmaker from Alabama.
In his lone season with the Crimson Tide, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound point guard averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from three-point range in 29.9 minutes a night while leading Bama to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
There’s (obviously) no way to replace a guy like Kyrie Irving, but Sexton gives the Cavs a legitimate, young point guard, one that has been badly needed in Cleveland.
He’s only 6-foot-2, but Sexton brings plenty of toughness, strength, and intensity to the Cavs. With an ability to be an elite defender in the NBA, Sexton’s 6-foot-7 wingspan could allow the team to use him in multiple ways defensively.
The point guard will have to improve his shot, especially from beyond the arc, but he somewhat makes up for it by his speed off the dribble, proving his ability to get to the rim during his one and only season at Alabama. With his work ethic, which many have called very impressive, his game should only improve the older he gets.
The Cavs were ultimately won over by Collin Sexton's competitiveness, character and overall drive. He did not have a knockout individual workout in CLE in terms of skill work or shooting, but the team was enamored by him as a person and what they saw from him in game settings.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 22, 2018
Although he basically has no sway in whether LeBron James will remain a Cav, Sexton did his best to try and keep the King during his interview on ESPN immediately after he was selected.
“Man LeBron, let’s do it,” Sexton said on ESPN, doing his best to entice No. 23 to remain with the wine and gold.
He may have been selected by the Cavs, but his fate with the team could change in the next few weeks. There’s a chance Sexton could be traded for a veteran if James decides to stay in Cleveland. There’s also a chance that the wine and gold will keep the point guard even if No. 23 returns. Much like the eighth pick, no one really knows what will happen until it actually happens.
Here’s his scouting report, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo:
Strengths
- Knack for getting downhill, attacking the paint and finishing. Strong and unafraid of contact, drawing 7.6 fouls per-40 minutes. Finished in the 87th percentile as a pick-and-roll scorer (0.57 points per possession). Was mostly efficient while shouldering a major offensive load, using 32.8% of his team’s possessions.
- Has the ability to be a strong on-ball defender. Has quick feet and is tenacious when engaged.
- Enough of a jump shooter that he should be passable. Shot just 33.6% from behind the arc but 77.8% from the foul line. High shot volume and selection maybe a factor.
- When locked in, plays with a nasty streak, particularly when closing games. Unafraid of the moment.
Weaknesses
- Questionable playmaking instincts. Poor 1.28 assist-to-turnover ratio. Finished in just the 28th percentile of pick-and-roll passers (0.84 points per possession). Can make the correct read, but on whole didn’t make teammates better.
- Scoring efficiency could be an issue given streaky jumper and penchant for taking hero-ball shots. Tends to bury his head and drive to the rim.
- Has a reputation as a good defender and ballhawk, but totaled just 28 steals in 33 games. Could be attributable to major offensive workload, but effort waxes and wanes. Have yet to see him turn it on for an entire game, start to finish.
- Is he better suited long-term as a starter, or as a third guard who provides offensive punch?