Cavs: 2 reasons Collin Sexton sets tone for foreseeable future

I get it, Collin Sexton is always going to have his naysayers. Does Sexton have the passing vision/feel of other Cleveland Cavaliers in Darius Garland or Matthew Dellavedova, who are both 1s?

Garland is far more balanced than Dellavedova, as we know, but no, Sexton does not possess that sort of passing acumen. I’m not saying he does, nor have I ever suggested that; he’s a score-first contributor.

Albeit the vision of Sexton has improved gradually, and with what he provides and with how teammates have often praised his efforts throughout this season, it’s difficult to read much into a report on how teammates have still been “frustrated” about Sexton’s ball-dominant style. That was from Joe Vardon of The Athletic (subscription required) the weekend before last; Vardon’s report/piece was still mostly on the Cavs/Kevin Love situation, as an aside.

With Sexton again, I’m not saying he’s a finished product, but the product to this point has been an improving one year-to-year and this season, he has had 4.3 assists per outing and an assist rate of 21.5 percent. For more so a secondary playmaker, with the scoring he provides/constant threat he is, to me, he’s still a crucial piece looking onward.

Sexton is a 2 from here, and regardless of the formality, the guy can score it pretty well. In Year 3, he’s again led the Cavaliers in scoring with 24.4 points per outing, and has done so on a fairly robust 57.5 percent true shooting rate. And on this Cavs team, with the offensive inconsistencies/largely injury issues around him this season, that shouldn’t be glossed over.

Furthermore, to me, Sexton is the Cavs’ tone-setter and looks to be a key leadership presence for the foreseeable future.

The first reason he looks to be the tone-setter and a key leadership presence from here is that you know what you’re getting from him night-to-night, by and large.