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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 ways Collin Sexton benefits without LeBron James

By Dan Gilinsky

LAS VEAGS, NV - JULY 16: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEAGS, NV - JULY 16: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEAGS, NV – JULY 16: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEAGS, NV – JULY 16: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Cavaliers could have a heck of a player in Collin Sexton, and without LeBron James around, he’ll have more chances to ball out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will build a LeBron James statue soon enough, and that’s warranted. He could end up being the best basketball player to walk the Earth (he might even be a dinosaur, really). In the near future, though, I believe the Cleveland franchise torch will be passed to Sexton, who has the intangibles to be a killer at the NBA level. The former McDonald’s All-American and Alabama Crimson Tide standout is a relentless competitor who has no hesitation to take an opponent’s heart at a moment’s notice.

There’s a good chance the Cavs have a star in the making in Sexton. He carried a mediocre Alabama team to the Men’s NCAA Tournament last year, which was no small feat. They hadn’t been there since 2012 (per Coaches Database).

All situations and teams are different, but for comparison’s sake, 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons couldn’t navigate his LSU Tiger team to the tourney in 2015-16. I wouldn’t say that’s a be-all-end-all, but getting to the postseason shouldn’t be a knock against Sexton.

He posted 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game at Alabama. That scoring average placed him second in the Southeastern Conference, per Sports Reference. To be clear, he’s not someone who is going to be shy with the basketball.

He’s going to attack the opposition with reckless abandon, especially for a 6-foot-2, 183-pound lead guard. That play style will be emphasized much more without James taking playmaking opportunities away from the rookie.