Cavs: Handoffs to Collin Sexton, Dylan Windler could be crucial for both

How handoffs could be key for Sexton for the Cavs

At this point, with what he’s shown, and with how he led Cleveland in scoring with 20.8 points per contest in 2019-20, it’s evident that Collin Sexton can create his own offense.

That said, to me, we could see Sexton more in-tune with generating looks from handoff situations from here, with pieces such as Drummond, Love and Nance.

There were glimpses of that in year 2, and although Sexton only placed in the 27th percentile in handoff scoring situations on a frequency of 7.5 percent, per Synergy Sports, from here onward, I believe he’ll be much improved in those scenarios.

That’s with how Sexton showed the ability to change speeds in attacking off-the-bounce in his second season, and while he does need to continue to build on it, Sexton did demonstrate better feel off-ball in 2019-20.

Next season, with that changing of speeds, and with him more comfortable off-ball initially in possessions, that should play out more from handoffs in year 3.

He should be able to get into in-rhythm pull-ups and floaters coming off handoffs, and being fully able to utilize his change of pace on-ball again should only be aided by more experience.

And in the opposite way from Windler, with Sexton’s constant driving and floater threat, he could take advantage by occasionally shooting three-point looks, of which he’s hit 39.2 percent of through two seasons overall, off the delivery from handoffs.

There might be some clean looks there from opponents going under to deter driving lanes from those handoffs, which are quasi pick-and-roll plays, realistically.

Anyhow, we know Sexton will get offensive opportunities more so initially unassisted via drives/mid-range pull-ups and from conventional spot-ups (surely assisted) it would seem.

But with him showing significant growth off-ball in year 2, and at times showing off-screen shooting promise from deliveries from Garland and others, handoffs could be crucial for him as a scorer. That’s with how he demonstrated the capability to change speeds.

And Sexton’s even bigger, stronger frame from this extended offseason should help more when he gets a step on defenders.

For handoffs generally again, that could relate to more looks right off-the-catch for him if defenders go under to cut off drives as well. From there, if they look to cut down on those, Sexton could go into a step back or potentially a hesitation pull-up.

In any case, next season and in coming years, handoffs could be crucial for Sexton and Windler, as was highlighted here, as scorers for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That’s mostly in relation to Sexton’s constant threat in the paint/in the mid-range, and with how Windler is such a polished perimeter shooter that excels off movement and has such deep range.