Cavs: 3 reasons for optimism about Collin Sexton’s future

Cavs: 3 reasons for optimism about Collin Sexton’s future – Teammates are Better

Over the past three seasons the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the worst shooting teams in the league. That has meant a packed paint area and constricted space to work within for Sexton, who has had to try and create shots while amidst a sea of defenders all comfortable sagging off of the Cavs’ perimeter players.

That is going to begin changing as early as this upcoming season. On the one hand, the pure talent level around Sexton continues to develop. Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro are a year further into their careers, the team revamped its bench, and No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley immediately raises their ceiling as a team.

Specifically in regards to spacing the team took a step forward as well. Lauri Markkanen is a knockdown shooter who will likely play the 4. Mobley is an unknown but demonstrated an exciting perimeter skillset in college. Dylan Windler and Kevin Love both look like they might be healthy to start training camp, and both are among the five-best shooters on the roster.

Now we might finally get to see what Sexton can do with a more open court. Will his shot selection, already solid, improve even further? Will his finishing inside go up as well? Will fewer bodies and limbs in the lane mean he can better see and execute passes to teammates?

That’s the hope. That Collin Sexton’s work ethic continues to translate into significant steps forward, and that a better team around him means more efficient scoring and passing. Scoring is valuable, and Sexton does that well. These build the path forward to Sexton to be worth the contract he is surely asking for. Will he, can he, take that path?