Collin Sexton Rumors: Jazz Don't Plan to Flip Guard After Sign-and-Trade with Cavs
September 1, 2022
The Utah Jazz acquired point guard Collin Sexton in a sign-and-trade as part of the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, and they reportedly plan to hold onto him.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast that while there was some speculation Utah would flip Sexton in another deal, he was told the 23-year-old won't be going anywhere.
"I checked in, because I wondered could they reroute Collin Sexton? Maybe to the Lakers, for example, you know," Windhorst said at the 18:56 mark. "But I was told no, that Sexton's gonna be in Utah, at least that's the plan."
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports the Jazz signed Sexton to a four-year, $72 million contract that is fully guaranteed on their way to completing the deal with the Cavaliers. Utah also acquired power forward Lauri Markkanen, 2022 No. 14 overall pick Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps in the trade.
Windhorst noted it's not clear what the Jazz plan on doing with the other two players, saying, "I assume they're going to keep Agbaji. We'll see if Markkanen stays. I don't know what Markkanen's market is."
Sexton is coming off a lost season after being limited to 11 games in 2021-22 because of a torn meniscus. He averaged 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and a career-worst 24.4 percent from three-point range.
Cleveland selected Sexton with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Alabama product had his best season in 2020-21, averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds. However, the Cavaliers declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Sexton's rookie deal prior to last season.
When he's healthy, Sexton will have the opportunity to be the focal point for Utah's offense. The Jazz are a team in transition after trading away Mitchell and star center Rudy Gobert. Sexton will have the chance to play alongside veteran point guard Mike Conley, which should help his development.