After landing combo guard Collin Sexton in a sign-and-trade deal with the Cavaliers as part of the package for All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz intend to keep Sexton in Utah, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said in an emergency edition of his podcast The Hoop Collective.
Sexton had been a restricted free agent this offseason, and negotiations between the 6’1″ guard out of Alabama and Cavaliers brass reportedly remained far apart in recent weeks. The team had offered him a deal in the range of a three-year, $40MM contract, which he had turned down. He’ll be inking a four-year, $72MM contract in the sign-and-trade that is sending him to the Jazz.
Sexton, still just 23, was unavailable for all but 11 games last season for Cleveland after tearing his meniscus. When healthy, he averaged 16.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG and 0.9 SPG, on .450/.244/.744 shooting splits. Through his four NBA seasons, he boasts career averages of 20.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3 RPG, and 0.8 SPG, with a .458/.378/.827 shooting line.
There’s more out of Utah:
- Zach Harper of The Athletic doles out trade grades to both the Cavaliers and the Jazz following the team’s exchange earlier today. Harper is higher on the addition of Mitchell for Cleveland than he is on the return acquired by Utah, noting that he sees the Cavaliers as a potential Eastern Conference contender.
- The Jazz now appear to be going all-in on a full-bore rebuild, writes Sarah Todd of the Deseret News. Todd takes stock of the team’s new assets thanks to its four offseason trades to date. The Jazz now have bolstered their roster with six players aged 25 or younger, plus two young players from the first round of this year’s draft, eight future first-round draft selections, and three upcoming draft pick swaps. Todd notes that this rebuild could be an extended process.
- Following these summer deals that have sent away All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Mitchell, the Jazz futures of veterans Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay appear to be up in the air. On today’s edition of his podcast The Lowe Post, ESPN’s Zach Lowe talks to colleague Bobby Marks about the potential trade destinations for these various players.
Nor a fan of this trade. The bottom line of Lauri Markkanen starting at small forward is that it worked. Lineups with Markkanen, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the court together outscored opponents by 7.9 points per 100 possessions. Add in Darius Garland, and that number spikes to 12.2.
Sexton, if healthy will score an efficent 20-25 points. Markannen about 15-18 with solid outside shooting (36+ 3pt%) and Obaji is a wild card but if his scouting is correct, he could be a solid 10-15 guy with good outside shooting as a 3 and D guy. Meanwhile, Mitchell will likely do what Sexton was already doing (about 25 points) and we have to HOPE he doesn’t get upset with not being a top 1-3 contender but winning 45 to 50 games like he did in Utah. Will he stay for the full 4 years he signed to. Mentioning thrre value of Sexton, interesting he went from being worth only 3/$40 mil to Cleveland but 4/$72 mil in Utah. Good job Rich Paul. You got your client $32 mil more by trusting in his value. That’s what a good agent does. Cavs being Cavs. Desperate to grab a big name the way the Browns were. Markannen was a great fit at SG and Obaji, Okorro and Osman could’ve been an interesting compliment to his size and skills. The bottom line of Lauri Markkanen starting at small forward is that it worked. Lineups with Markkanen, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the court together outscored opponents by 7.9 points per 100 possessions. Add in Darius Garland, and that number spikes to 12.2.
I at least wanted to see what and how Garland/Sexton/Markannen/Mobley/Allen with Obaji, Love, Okorro, Osman, Levert and ultimately Rubio would’ve looked like. The offense has been weekend from the team that was already ranked 25th last year.
You can’t always compare numbers straight up. There’s a lot to like about Sexton. He’s got a good first step, can get the basket, can spot up from 3 and hits difficult shots. Then again Mitchell does all those things as well. Mitchell however can pull up from deep, is a more explosive finisher, has better shot selection and is a lot better passer.
With time maybe Sexton will become a better passer, he’s young enough to develop a pull jumper and maybe he’ll take more 3s. Basically develop into what Mitchell is now.
Mobley jumpstarted the rebuild and the time is now. I don’t know if it’ll lead to ring this year as the Cavs are a little thin at the 3. Give them a year to gel and time for Mobley and Okoro to develop a little more. You have 3 All-Stars and a young superstud in Mobley with a decent bench. This team is stacked and has as good of shot as any over the next few years. You’ll love this trade soon enough.
They still have a stretch 4 who doesn’t play D in Love. Okoro, Osman and Levert will all share time at the 3. They played better without Sexton last season. Mitchell is a way better and proven player at only 25
Don’t see Cavs as contenders yet. But they could ruin someone’s year next year. East better take them seriously in the playoffs.
Sixers, Celtics, Heat, even Nets all have a lot to prove. All got potential to come out of East. Still see Bucks as Favs. Gonna be a fun year in the East.
Pretty good trade for both teams.
Cavs didn’t have a plan for keeping Sexton. LeVert will likely slide in to the starting 3 role. And Donovan is an upgrade over Sexton (at this stage of their careers).
Utah is banking on Sexton producing like Mitchell – he’ll have a green light, and if he’s taking 30 shots a game and 4 or 5 FTs he’ll be a 24-26 point scorer.
The Jazz will also eventually end up moving Bojan, Conley, Clarkson, and Gay. So Lauri, Beasley, THT, Sexton, Butler, and Vanderbilt will get the lion’s share of minutes.
I think they ultimately move one of Butler, THT, or Beasley this year or next offseason.
@philly
Seriously bro? He scored 24 points his last full season on 18 shots a game shooting an efficient 47/37/82. It’s like you’re treating him like he’s a volume scorer. Mitchell took 20 shots to score 26.
He’s coming off a big injury and will be asked to carry more of the load in Utah. His efficiency won’t be near the same there
@Lionel
By all accounts he’s healthy. Efficiency has to do with how good if a shooter you are, not how large your load is. You’ve said nothing legit to support your opinion. His health will be judged once the season starts.
Prediction: Sexton will score about 22 to 25 points per. Markannen will score about 15 to 18. Mitchell will score about 25. Ogbaji will become a sea⁵1
A’s for both teams
Cavs have seriously weakened this team. I don’t care how you feel about Sexton. Just use logic. Sexton scored 24 in his last full season. Mitchell scored 26 last year. Is a Mitchell going to score enough or do enough positive things over Sexton that he was worth Markannen who flourished as a SG ( With Lauri Markkanen starting at small forward in the lineup with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the court together outscored opponents by 7.9 points per 100 possessions. Add in Darius Garland, and that number spikes to 12.2) plus whatever Obaji might have brought to the table plus the trade value or potential talent value of three 1st round picks? I feel like they gave up to much who doesn’t do that much more than what Sexton has done. please don’t agree, back it up with facts.
There is a MAJOR difference scoring 24 ppg like Sexton did when the majority of those games were Cavs getting blown out and getting plenty of garbage buckets. You also don’t “really” get guarded. Opposing team knows they are getting a double-digit win. Let him score and take the “W”.
Mitchell is not an efficient scorer. However, he has produced his scoring output on a playoff team that two years ago was the #1 seed in the West. Mitchell was the focus of opposing defenses of the top teams in the dominant Western Conference, and still led team to a #1 seed.
Cleveland got good, and in the games he played Sexton’s production dropped to 16 ppg. Bad team, stats guy. NBA is filled with them.
Mitchell is flawed. However, Sexton is not on his level. Sexton is a bad team stats guy. Put him in meaningful situations, and his production tanks.
Mitchell is a playoff proven winning player and a three time all star who is only 25. Still years away from his peak. He was the best player on a contending team for multiple years. Sexton is a good player but his future is probably as a 6th man on a decent team. He doesn’t do much else than score
L for the Knicks, W for the Cavs, W for the Jazz
W for the Knicks if the rumor is true that they originally offered Barrett, Topin, Robinson and three number ones. With that on the table, what’s the point. I’m surprised Ainge didn’t grab that offer.
An emergency NBA podcast is like a very special episode of (insert lame sitcom)
The Jazz are still going to be seen in the light of if Gobert were there with this team how good would they be?
They would be just this close to a championship all will say. Why didn’t they just keep him and do the rest of what they did.
How many future draft picks do we need?
Your looking at a front court of Kessler, Vanderbilt, Azabuike and Markannen.
Nahh, we’re good. I didn’t want them to trade Mitchell or Gobert, I wanted to try to get Grant or equivalent. With these trades though now we have a shot at Wembanyama or Henderson along with GG Jackson, Mgbako or Booker. A true tear it down rebuild, something we haven’t ever really done.
You still need a front court that can stop somebody. The fans and media aren’t going to play future draft picks game once the season starts.
In addition in no way are the Jazz trying to build a losing team. The Ainge that people of a certain age know, knows he is not capable of that.
Also, the tear down does not mean right this second. Why the rush when there is nothing out there the Jazz need right now other a quality big?
Sexton’s and Lauri contract are tradeable based on their value. Danny has plenty of assets. If Utah gets a top 2 pick this draft they will rise two studs are there. One Projected better than Tim Duncan. Cleveland has it stud in Mobley. Garland’s passing spida will be in heaven.
No shot at a top 5 for Jazz.
Cavs have four all star caliber players and a deep bench. Great trade for them. The top of the East is going to be fun.