As soon as the buzzer sounded at the conclusion of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, everything the Cavaliers have done since has been with LeBron James’ future in mind. By drafting Collin Sexton No. 8 overall Thursday night, Cleveland got the best available player to keep LeBron in the wine and gold.
Collin Sexton is the player the Cavaliers needed, whether LeBron James stays or leaves
Collin Sexton could be a good reason for LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. If he leaves, Sexton is also a phenomenal building block for the franchise.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sexton is an incredibly skilled guard. He knows he’s great, and he’s not shy about being great. His self-awareness is part of what makes him so damn good, and why he might be as prepared as any player for a pro career. Sexton has a fearless mentality that even many NBA players don’t have.
There’s no guarantees that LeBron will stay in Cleveland. But if there was a pick to make to help the Cavaliers keep him, Sexton was the pick. He’s also a pick that Cleveland can love regardless of what happens this summer.
The Cavaliers needed a point guard. Sexton covers that.
A point guard is a good start to the Keep LeBron checklist. The Cavaliers were clearly not the same team without Kyrie Irving this season, and they were never going to be. The Isaiah Thomas experiment failed miserably. Dwyane Wade wasn’t the “Flash” Dwyane Wade who LeBron needed. And the Cavs were never going to get much out from the likes of Derrick Rose, London Perrantes, George Hill, and Jose Calderon.
In 33 games last season, Sexton averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game for a football school.
LeBron doesn’t have time for a rookie who is scared, and Sexton is fearless.
A lot of NBA Draft heads will say that a player plays without fear, but Sexton is actually that guy. When he was in high school, one moment defined Sexton’s cuss and competitiveness.
Lined up at the lane during free throws, an opponent started staring up at Sexton. Sexton noticed, and gave his opponent a chance to look away. When he didn’t, Sexton turned towards him, got down to his level, and gave him a piercing look of death that quickly made him reconsider the fight he was picking.
There has never been a more “can I fucking help you?” moment on a basketball court than that one. It’s on a very I’m Going To Be A Polite Charles Oakley tip. A stare down so beautifully set up like that will probably never happen again, but thank the good basketball Gods that we have this moment to cherish forever.
There was also the time when Sexton said IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME to Penny Hardaway that Hardaway’s son was trash. Penny Hardaway! His son! Trash!
And as far as trying to make his own mark in Cleveland, Sexton’s not worried about any comparison that people might make.
This is a guy you want on your team today, tomorrow, and yesterday too. Sexton is the kind of rookie that the Cavaliers and LeBron need most.
Sexton won games on his own last year. Imagine what he could do with LeBron and other stars around him.
Sexton and LeBron can relate to each other when it comes to playing with a lack of help. There’s also no doubt they’d rather not ride alone anymore — especially if you’re a 33-year-old LeBron. But Sexton is the type of talent who could really shine with some help, and there isn’t a better player to pair him with than LeBron. If the Cavaliers get LeBron to stay, and bring in a big-name free agent or two, then Cleveland could be back in the Finals except with an extent chance to win.
I could point to any big game that Sexton had at Alabama as an example. He had a huge SEC Tournament, for example, in which he improved his draft stock immensely.
But there is one bizarre, almost legendary game that stands out: Against Minnesota last November, Sexton nearly led Alabama to a win with just three players:
On the other end, Sexton managed to keep his motor running and operate as if he had a full team to play with. He dropped shot after shot despite being triple-teamed at times. He was picked up defensively as soon as he crossed the halfcourt line, but with solid handles and limitless range, Sexton was at his best playing with nothing to lose.
Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino joked after the game that Sexton could beat an entire team on his own.
Maybe he wasn’t kidding.
That’s right — Down 11 points, Sexton played just under 11 minutes (!) with only two other teammates on the floor after one starter fouled out, another got injured, and the entire Crimson Tide bench got ejected for stepping on the court during an altercation.
Minnesota won that game by five, but Sexton proved that he was the real deal by pulling his team to within three with a minute and a half remaining and down two men on the floor.
The NBA is clearly a different beast. But with LeBron James and other good players around him, Collin Sexton could make an immediate impact in the NBA. That impact is what LeBron and the Cavaliers both need, no matter the outcome of the Summer of LeBron.
Even if LeBron doesn’t stay, this was still a great pick for the Cavaliers.
Let’s put on our Worst Case Scenario hats for a moment. If LeBron James does leave, the Cavaliers aren’t going to be in great shape! Crazy, I know.
But if there’s a person to start over with, it’s Sexton for all of the reasons above. He’s a great player with immense potential, and he has the attitude to carry a franchise at 19 years old, much like LeBron once did.
See More:
