3 reasons to think Collin Sexton can thrive on the Cavs

3 reasons to think Collin Sexton can thrive on the Cavs: Scoring

This may seem reductionistic, but it’s the simplest way to capture Collin Sexton’s biggest strength: he can score at high volume with good efficiency. He’s not Ja Morant with his ability to finish inside and attack the rim again and again, but he is absolutely one of the league’s best rim-assaulting guards.

In 2020-21, his last full season, Collin Sexton ranked ninth in the league in drives per game, with 16.8. He shot 47.3 percent on those drives, an above-average number, leading to 9.7 points per game off of drives, which itself ranked eighth. That was a major piece of his 24.3 points per game.

That’s Sexton’s sweet spot, sizing up the defense then attacking, with or without a screen, bowling his way into the perimeter and then finishing efficiently at the rim despite towering defenders often in his path. He averaged 6.1 attempts at the rim that season, 11th among guards, and his 59.7 percent at the rim was 7th among high-volume guards.

The Cavaliers struggled to find their secondary scorer last season, which led them to send substantial draft pick compensation to the Indiana Pacers for Caris LeVert. Even so, Sexton would be the Cavs’ second-best scorer if he returned behind just Darius Garland, and provide a substantial boost to the bench when Garland sits.