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Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton’s ROY campaign will define Cavs season

By Nathan Beighle

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers will go as far as Collin Sexton takes them.

A successful season for the Cleveland Cavaliers will have more than one defining characteristic.

For starters, they clearly want to stay relevant and make the postseason in a weaker Eastern Conference. However, they must also renew their desire to fully develop young players.

While Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, and Jordan Clarkson may all improve, the future of the Cavaliers is in the hands of Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton. Their success will be imperative to Cleveland’s season.

Specifically, Sexton’s craftiness and ability to adapt to the NBA lifestyle is what will matter the most.

Drafted by Cleveland with the No. 8 overall pick, Sexton is coming in with expectations higher than any Cavalier rookie since the 2011 draft when the Cavs selected Kyrie Irving No. 1 overall. Sexton’s terrific Las Vegas Summer League arguably raised his already lofty expectations.

Playing in all seven Cavalier games, Sexton averaged 19.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.7 minutes per game. Even Russell Westbrook didn’t perform that well during his summer league stint.

That said, Sexton’s perform will be the key to Cleveland making both the playoffs and considering their season a success.

Record-wise the Cavs would want to be far better, but numbers-wise Sexton’s season would be successful if he could mimic Westbrook’s rookie averages. Westbrook averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds, respectively the third, second and sixth highest on the team.

That and a playoff berth will be exactly what Cleveland needs this upcoming season, and to be frank, that should be easily achievable for Sexton. The problem with Sexton will be getting the minutes early on and making those minutes count.

The Cavs have a loaded backcourt in which minutes will be distributed pretty evenly between Smith, Clarkson, Hill, Hood and Sexton. Five players to split 96 minutes a night. Will Sexton be able to develop like Westbrook when he plays 25 instead of nearly 33 minutes per game?

On a team that has playoff aspirations, that seems like a very reasonable question. Sexton is just 19-years-old and will need literal time to develop, time Lue and his staff must allot to him en route to developing a winning culture for the present and future success of the team.

The Cavs have to prioritize development and that means putting more developed players behind Sexton. If they see progress with Sexton’s decision-making and continued tenacity, they’ll be no question but give him those 30+ minutes per game.

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Play Sexton, win games and see development will define a great season in Cleveland, and behind Sexton, that’s exactly what should happen.