Cavs: 2 promising signs from Collin Sexton early on

I know, I know, I know. Collin Sexton/his representation and the Cleveland Cavaliers did not reach a contract extension agreement before last Monday’s 6 PM deadline for his 2018 NBA Draft class.

That was not ideal, in my humble opinion, and I’d think plenty of Cavaliers fans. It was somewhat surprising that Sexton was not extended, but even with that being the case, I don’t believe fans should be overreacting to it.

Sexton was a bit disappointed, as he expressed in media availability last week. Even still, Sexton did state in the same media availability how he won’t let this get to him and negatively affect the team, and that he’ll continue to attack each day how he always does, and seemingly set the right example as a tireless worker for the team.

To me, with what he brings game-to-game, and with the strides he’s made as a bonafide three-level scorer, improving secondary playmaker and with his exemplary attitude, I do firmly believe he’ll be with the Cavs for the long haul. He’s set to be a restricted free agent next offseason for now, but the two sides could reportedly come to an agreement next offseason before he does ultimately hit restricted free agency.

Anyway, moving past that conversation for now, Sexton has done a solid job so far in the earlygoing for Cleveland.

He’s had 20.7 points per outing on 52.1 percent shooting, and although the assist totals don’t show it with 2.3 per outing to an identical average of turnovers, the passing willingness and vision has been a positive. I’ve been pleased with his play, largely, so far.

Cavs: Somewhat along those lines, here, we’ll highlight two areas of his game that have been particularly encouraging from Sexton thus far early on in Year 4.

First up, we’ll take a look at the passing element.

#1: Sexton’s continued playmaking growth for the Cavs

Last season, Sexton did show signs as a playmaker, at least in the secondary/combo guard variety, with 4.4 assists per outing. In relation to combo guards, Sexton placed in the 67th percentile in assist rate, too, per Cleaning The Glass. Per them, his assist rate was 21.8 percent.

There were some flashes in Year 2 from him as a better passer, but per Cleaning The Glass, his assist rate in Year 2 was in just the sixth percentile. The passing willingness/strides were not seen from him then as compared to last season, anyhow; he was generating productive ball-swings far more consistently last season, and hitting more dump-offs/transition cutters.

And despite the lack of assist totals early this season as compared to Year 3, he’s appeared to have that passing growth carried that forward.

Throughout games, while the Cavaliers not been able to hit nearly the same as far as perimeter looks from his passes, and some cutters/dump-off threats have either fumbled passes or missed interior looks, Sexton is seeing those often and delivering them. This dish to Evan Mobley in Cleveland’s win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday displayed growth regarding his decision-making in the lane, for example.

He’s finding mismatches more regularly as a passer, too, which has been a key positive after ball-swings to him or him initiating or reseting in mid-clock situations; I’d imagine that Ricky Rubio has helped in that regard, as a side note.

Instead of maybe taking a tough floater on a different occasion against Atlanta, he made an awesome dish to Markkanen, who had possession for a layup, and that was further evidence that Sexton is improving as a passer to bigs. And with Darius Garland missing the past two outings due to a left ankle sprain, this sort of development, also with Sexton finding more kickouts along the baseline for corner threes, is nice to see.

Again, and if other Cavs such as Markkanen, whose hit only 27.8 percent early from three, and perhaps Mobley, when open, knock down more deep balls after Sexton extra passes/kickouts, it’ll help bring the assist totals up for Collin as well.

Overall, when watching games, it’s apparent that, while he is much more so a 2 and/or combo guard, Sexton’s passing growth, continuing on from last season, has been there. It’s shocking he’s had only 2.3 assists per game thus far, given all the quality looks he’s helped create.

Secondly, another promising development from him has been regarding the fourth-year guard’s finishing.

#2: Sexton’s finishing early on for the Cavs in Year 4

Last season, Sexton made noticeable strides as a fnisher, as he took another step regarding his change-of-pace on-ball, and although it’s really early, the results there have been something else.

I recognize that Sexton has hit just 26.7 percent from three, but it’s been good to see him taking 5.0 attempts per game early on here, and with his shooting growth, the results will come around soon enough. That’s also with him becoming clearly more comfortable off-ball, too.

Anyway, the reason I bring that point up is that even with the results being spotty through a few games, Sexton’s willingness to shoot more from deep, combined with an improved handle has led to him feasting going to the rack. It’s been three games, so we shouldn’t freak out, but Sexton converting on 81.3 percent in the restricted area (per NBA.com’s shooting data) so far hasn’t been terrible.

I know that the results there will come back down to Earth, however, with what Sexton has been showing, and with hopefully better shooting around him game-to-game as others become more comfortable, he could still take another step as a finisher.

The aforementioned improved handle, combined with his jets in transition or in settled offense at times, makes this dude so difficult to guard when he’s getting downhill and with him being a constant shooting threat.

Granted, the Bull’s speed will always lead to success at times, also; that paid off here, as we’ve seen so often.

It’s evident that Sexton’s off to a great start as a finisher in Year 4, and the game seems to really be slowing down for him on-ball. And I don’t discount his continued off-ball growth, and the likes of Darius Garland and assuredly Ricky Rubio have helped that development, I believe.

Hopefully these two areas, involving the finishing progression and passing growth we first hit on, keep showing up game-to-game for Sexton as he plays out Year 4 with the Cavaliers.