When the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted guard Collin Sexton with the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft last June, the expectation was that he would eventually be a key member of the starting lineup.
However, there’s now speculation that members of the organization see him being more of an effective player coming off the bench.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com answered a series of questions from fans about the Cavaliers, one of them dealing with Jordan Clarkson’s future with the team. Fedor indicated that Clarkson and his expiring contract could be dealt next season, meaning that Sexton’s role may change as a result:
“It’s also possible that Sexton steps into that primary bench-scorer role in the future. Some in the organization believe that will eventually suit him best.”
During his up-and-down rookie campaign, the 20-year-old Sexton played in all 82 of the Cavaliers’ games and started all but 10 of those contests. Those 10 games coincided with the start of his career.
In those games coming off the bench, Sexton averaged 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists, numbers that obviously changed once he entered the starting lineup. By the end of the year, Sexton finished with averages of 16.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Any decision on the matter isn’t likely to come soon and could conceivably depend on who the Cavaliers select with their top pick in June’s draft. Another potential factor could revolve around who ends up being named as the team’s new head coach and how he sees Sexton’s role.
Regardless of whether Sexton starts or comes off the bench, his play during the second half of the season showed that he can develop into a valuable team asset. Having gone through the growing pains that come during every rookie season, he’s now ready to take the next step forward and be an integral component in the Cavs’ rebuilding plans.
