Cavs work out Collin Sexton following Finals loss

Could 2018 NBA Draft prospect Collin Sexton be the future franchise point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Cleveland Cavaliers worked out University of Alabama point guard Collin Sexton on Friday as they continue to prepare for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Cavs team owner Dan Gilbert would allude to the workout in a tweet of his own.

It seems like ancient history now but Sexton was the hottest player in the country at the start of the season, earning national attention last in November after he scored 40 points and nearly led his team to a comeback victory over a then undefeated Minnesota team despite the Crimson Tide having to play 3-on-5 for nearly the entire second half.

Even former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dwyane Wade had to give it up for the then 18-year-old Sexton.

University of Oklahoma freshman Trae Young would eventually steal the spotlight from Sexton with his sensational perimeter play reminding many of a young Stephen Curry.

However, after averaging 19.2 points and 3.6 assists per game (both team-highs) while playing under Avery Johnson (who played in the NBA for 16 years and was a head coach for 7 more seasons), Sexton has not only the talent to succeed in the NBA but the intangibles (toughness, determination, basketball IQ and exposure to the pro game) as well.

An attacking point guard whose intensity on both ends has led many to compare him to John Wall, Sexton stands at 6-foot-1, has a 6-foot-7 wingspan and has a lean 183 pound frame with just 5.6 percent body fat. It wouldn’t be surprising for Sexton to grow another inch or so during his first season given his youth, as Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum did during his rookie season.

Nonetheless, though Sexton’s physique, core strength and tenacity will allow to play bigger than his size, his height will be the biggest hindrance to him on either end.

As far as defense is concerned, Sexton will be targeted in the post by bigger players.

On offense, Sexton will have to prove he can finish through the limbs of NBA athletes. This is where seeing him scoring inside while being double and triple-teamed inspires confidence that he can.

However, because of how much Sexton relies on scoring inside the paint to be efficient (33.6 percent shooting from three), the effect his size has on his offense will be more important. If there’s a saving grace for Sexton’s jumper it’s that it looks to be one fluid motion, just one where his guide hand possibly produces too much variance in his aim for him to reach optimal efficiency.

Sexton made 48.0 percent of his threes in November and 42.3 percent of his threes in March but wasn’t able to convert more than 33.3 percent of his threes in any other month. These numbers seem to underscore his inefficiency and illuminate his potential as a shooter.

His size also effects his playmaking as it relates to seeing through the defense. Sexton will need to prove himself a quick study who can predetermine defensive reactions and astute point guard with great vision in order to be an efficient playmaker at the NBA level.

In making comparisons between him and Wall, this is the biggest difference, as Wall is an outstanding facilitator in the NBA and averaged 6.5 assists per game as a freshman at the University of Kentucky.

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For the Cavs, it’s become clear that they need a scoring-minded franchise point guard after trading All-Star Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics and failed experiments with Dwyane Wade, Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose. Jordan Clarkson was likely never viewed as a starter but as a traditional spark plug off the bench. George Hill has two years remaining on his deal and only had $1 million of his salary guaranteed next season.

Furthermore, guard play drives the league.

Without a strong backcourt to match up with the ones they may have on the other side, the lack of perimeter playmaking can doom the Cavaliers offense — especially in the playoffs. No combination of Hill, Clarkson, Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith are good enough for this Cavaliers backcourt and as a result, an upgrade is both welcomed and required.

If Sexton is selected by the Cavs with their eight overall pick look for one of Hill, Clarkson or Smith to be moved. Likely in a trade package with Kevin Love for an All-Star.

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*All stats gathered from www.sports-reference.com/cbb