King James Gospel
Fansided

Cavs: 5 reasons fans should be pumped for next season

By Quenton S. Albertie

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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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 15: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Codi Miller-McIntyre #11 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 82-68. 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 15: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Codi Miller-McIntyre #11 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 82-68. 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Reason #5

There’s a top-ten pick (in his rookie year) playing for Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had seven top-ten draft picks since 2004 and with those picks, they’ve selected the following players:

LeBron James (1st overall in 2004), Kyrie Irving (1st overall in 2011), Tristan Thompson (4th overall in 2011), Dion Waiters (4th overall in 2012), Anthony Bennett (1st overall in 2013), Andrew Wiggins (1st overall in 2014) and Collin Sexton (8th overall in 2018).

Out of those seven players, four now play for other teams while Bennett has been in and out of the league since the 2015-2016 season.

In Sexton, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a potential backcourt stud but he comes after a long line of lottery picks that didn’t pan out for the Cavs.

Bennett simply wasn’t good enough or in shape. Waiters, who borders on overconfident at times, was unwilling to bend to LeBron James’ will.

Even for the players that have worked out, Irving requested a trade in the 2017 offseason. James signed with Los Angeles in July, his second time leaving the Cavs franchise.

Sexton has a chance to change the tides for Cavs lottery picks, not just by showing he can be a cornerstone like Irving or James but by showing he can be a loyal Cav, like Thompson.

Should he complete the Triple Crown — production, loyalty and longevity — Sexton will be one of the best draft picks in Cavs history. That’s a big picture view of Sexton’s career but the first chapter of his pro career, his rookie season, will play a large part in how he’s perceived moving forward.

Don’t let the name Believeland fool you. Though they have faith in their professional sports teams winning a championship, Cleveland’s inhabitants are quick to get down on a player (or shout their praises). So Sexton’s rookie season will be an emotional roller coaster for Cleveland.

With his electric play in the open court, aggressive defense and gumption as a floor general, Sexton will be exciting to watch.

Sexton averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game in college. He then averaged 19.6 points, 3.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game in the Las Vegas Summer League.