It’s clear that the Utah Jazz either don’t want or are hesitant to let Collin Sexton have a larger role than he has now.
Averaging 21.1 points per game over a 38-game stretch, there’s enough statistical evidence that he should be a core player. Yet, Sexton’s opportunities are capped due to Jazz head coach Will Hardy’s preference of placing the ball in Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George‘s hands. So much so that the best course of action for Sexton and the Jazz is to explore an offseason trade.
Jazz, Collin Sexton Will Benefit from Offseason Trade
Indeed, Collin Sexton can be prone to getting tunnel vision on his drives. He’s diversified his ball-handling and scoring package. However, he can still become a bit predictable. This isn’t too problematic in and of itself. Nonetheless, these are the areas of his game that he still needs to work on as a go-to player. With that in mind, Sexton just turned 25 years old on Jan. 4. His development is and should be far from over.
To that point, trading Sexton to a team that will allow him to reach his peak is what’s best for him. Conversely, trading Sexton for a player that fits alongside Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt is best for the Jazz.
Looking around the NBA landscape, the best trade for both sides would be one that lands him with the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, and Charlotte Hornets. Sexton will have ample opportunity to grow with these franchises as all three are currently undergoing a rebuild. Furthermore, all three teams need a significant upgrade to their current backcourt.
For the Jazz, completing a trade with one of these franchises allows them to acquire a starting-level forward. In a trade with the Wizards, Utah may be able to net Kyle Kuzma, a scoring-minded hybrid forward. A trade with the Spurs could lead to them acquiring one of Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson, both of whom are slightly undersized for small forward but have a two-way impact. Lastly, a trade with the Hornets allows them to land Miles Bridges, a two-way combo forward. Notably, the Jazz were linked to Bridges just ahead of the trade deadline.
Cavalier in Cleveland
One of the strangest sagas in the NBA has been Collin Sexton’s career arc.
The No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Sexton was originally selected to be Kyrie Irving‘s replacement during LeBron James‘ second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sexton would never get that opportunity, as James left the Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency that offseason. Yet, while that meant that he would now become the face of the rebuild, it also resulted in weaknesses that were supposed to be covered by James’ presence being exposed.
An off-guard that needed a crash course in facilitating, Sexton’s tunnel vision early in his career was well-documented. Indeed, his reputation of seeing nothing but the rim still circulates years later. This is despite the combo guard making noteworthy progress in his processing, court vision, and passing ability. In any case, his initial scouting report resulted in Cleveland drafting a natural point guard in Darius Garland the very next year.
The No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Garland impressed with his playmaking prowess, ball-handling abilities, and pull-up shooting. His game was simply more polished and aesthetically pleasing than Sexton’s. Consequentially, he usurped Sexton as the face of the rebuild.
Yet, Sexton’s productivity allowed him to continue being a prominent starter. Averaging 16.7 points per game in his rookie season, Sexton finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. He then raised his scoring average to 20.8 points per game in Garland’s first season. In 2020-21, his scoring average received another bump, as he posted a career-high 24.3 points per game.
The Writing on the Wall
All the while, Collin Sexton was developing his play recognition. Yet, the issue for the Sexton-Garland backcourt pairing was on the defensive end. Darius Garland was simply unable to contain his man and stop perimeter penetration. Sexton had the unfortunate knack of getting caught up on screens. Seen as the problem of having an undersized backcourt, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the duo.
Strangely, Cleveland would trade Sexton for a similar-sized guard in star Donovan Mitchell. Though Mitchell was an established volume scorer on a perennial playoff contender, if the biggest problem with Sexton was his size, it made little sense to acquire a 6-foot-3 combo guard. More to the point, while Mitchell was undoubtedly an upgrade, there was a sense that the Cavs were just ready to move on from Sexton. This belief was strengthened by a contract dispute in free agency, as Cleveland didn’t want to pay Sexton the salary that he desired.
After being traded to the Utah Jazz, Sexton agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract. However, while believing himself to be retaining his starting role, Sexton came off the bench. He even played a career-low 23.9 minutes per game. This may have been, in part, a result of him suffering a season-ending meniscus tear that limited him to just 11 games the season prior. It may also have been due to the Jazz’s reluctance to start a small backcourt featuring he and Mike Conley. In fact, after the Jazz traded the 6-foot-0 veteran to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sexton started in five of his final six games.
Yet, entering the 2023-24 season, Sexton still came off the bench. Uninspired by his point guard play, Utah ultimately began the season with Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George starting in the backcourt.
Take That for Data!
It was only after an injury to Jordan Clarkson and poor play by Talen Horton-Tucker and Keyonte George that Collin Sexton re-entered the starting lineup. It was to the Utah Jazz’s benefit as well. They had been floundering up to that point. Going 15-4 in Sexton’s first 19 starts, the Jazz re-entered playoff contention.
However, the return of Clarkson coincided with a drop in Sexton’s minutes. Utah found themselves unable to justify removing Sexton from the starting lineup, especially with the NBA world taking note of his play. Not that it would matter though. With Clarkson and George playing the lion’s share of minutes in the backcourt, Sexton routinely plays under 30 minutes per game as a starter.
Interestingly, Jazz head coach Will Hardy admits to coaching Sexton based on preconceived notions about his play.
One has to wonder at what point Sexton’s current play is what Hardy coaches him on though. Sexton and Lauri Markkanen, a favorite of Hardy, are the only two Jazz players to average above 25 points per 36 minutes while shooting above 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3. Furthermore, Sexton is second on the team in points per game (17.9) despite playing 24.9 minutes per game.
