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New York Knicks: Trading for Collin Sexton should be an offseason priority

By Allen Settle

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 04: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 04, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 04: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 04, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Collin Sexton, New York Knicks. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

New York Knicks: Collin Sexton’s defense

At first glance, Sexton’s defensive metrics indicate that he is a bad defender. While he ranks at the bottom of the league in several advanced metrics, there are reasons to believe that these numbers misrepresent his abilities. They are also not predictive of his future defensive ceiling.

The biggest factor in these sub-par numbers is the franchise that Sexton has spent his entire career playing for. It is abundantly clear that the Cavaliers have been in a complete rebuild mode during the guard’s entire NBA tenure.

Unfortunately for Sexton, the young star just missed the best era of Cleveland basketball. LeBron James ended his second stint with the franchise, with his sights set on Los Angeles, the season before Sexton was drafted. This meant the Cavs, who finished every season between 2014-2017 with 50+ wins and an NBA Finals berth.

Fast forward to the next season, Sexton’s first, and the results were drastically different. Cleveland would post just 19 wins in each of the next two seasons. Last year, Sexton’s best, saw the team end with a 22-50 record.

The team has played exactly as one might expect from a rebuilding franchise. The seasons are long and the team has had little incentive to keep focus over the long haul. The franchise as a whole has displayed a porous defense since the moment James left for the Lakers.

It is difficult to place too much blame on Sexton for failing to live up to his defensive potential.

However, I firmly believe that Sexton has the skillset to thrive as a perimeter defender. He is young, athletic, and quick. The junior guard has also displayed a consistent intensity that mirrors defensive wizards like Draymond Green and Patrick Beverly.

This clip from Sexton summoning his trademark intensity during a summer league contest is what I first associate with the rising star.

Or perhaps this clip of him aggressively staring down a competitor during his high school days.

Playing defense in the NBA certainly takes more than focus and intensity. But, with the proper coaching, I believe that Sexton has the tools to establish himself as an above-average defender. A defensive guru like Coach Thibodeau could mold him into a Beverley-typed difference-maker.

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