Collin Sexton Should Be an Untouchable for Utah

I get it. Rebuilds are rough.

Guys you think could be a part of a future dynasty flame out within a year and get traded to Toronto (Ochai Agbaji.)

Guys who seem like fringe roster additions end up developing into valuable if not necessary additions (Kris Dunn.)

Disappointments are expected, change is required, and the only consistent thing about a rebuilding basketball team is inconsistency.

There’s no denying that year #2 of the Smith/Ainge/Hardy rebuild era in Utah has hit fans a bit harder than year #1.

Games have been difficult to stomach as of late, and you’d be hard pressed to find a team worse than the Utah Jazz after the trade deadline, who have gone 3-20 since and are entrenched in a 9-game losing streak.

The Jazz may not win another game this year, but they can at least claim a bona fide star in Lauri Markkanen, young players with high upside in Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks and Walker Kessler, as well as……

Well, that’s typically about it. That’s where most fans stop when asked to give reasons to watch a dreadful Jazz team.

Anyone outside of those players is likely to go the way of Kelly Olynyk and Simone Fontecchio.

For any big plays or cool moments certain players have, its unlikely that fans or the Jazz themselves are looking at Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Talen Horton-Tucker and the like as long term building blocks for the future.

Outside of Markkanen and the youngsters, the Jazz will likely cut ties with a lot of these players prior to this upcoming season via trades, cuts and just plain old expiring contracts.

With so many players likely on the short term stay list in Salt Lake City, Utah should be adding one more name to the long-term list in Collin Sexton.

Sexton was in a weird spot a year ago, not good enough to be a star, too good to be an afterthought or stuck on the pine.

He played with intense passion, but turned the ball over a ton.

His ability to attack was as good as anyone’s on the team, and his shot selection was as bad as anyone’s.

Sexton could blow by defenders and get into the paint, but once he was there, he couldn’t finish and he certainly couldn’t find the open man.

This year, has been a pure revelation for Sexton and his ability to be a top tier player.

Often overlooked by the fact that the Jazz have been an awful team is the fact that Sexton has unraveled into someone you want hanging around for the long haul.

The Jazz haven’t had too much go right as of late, but Sexton’s development, has been one of the best storylines, if not the best storyline of the year for Utah.

His improvement hasn’t been a flash in the pan, it’s been consistent lasting and meaningful.

Sexton was good this year when the Jazz were good, and he’s been good when the Jazz have been atrocious.

Look at some of these marks as opposed to last year:

Sexton has been the second highest scorer this season (18.8 PPG), the 2^nd highest assist man (4.9), and the 2^nd best three-point shooter who gets nightly minutes (39.7 % on 4.2 tries).

In terms of career averages Collin is playing nearly 4 minutes less than his career average, taking almost two shots less per game, and shooting at about 50 percent from the field.

Last season saw Sexton shoot 50.6 percent from the field, but he only attempted less than 10 shots a game on average compared to this year’s 13.3.

Its not about just taking more shots, its about taking better shots and Sexton has succeeded at that.

Hand in hand with that statement, is his current career high of 4.9 assist per game. Better shots, better looks, better awareness, leads to better passes.

Sexton has forced less and dished more, making him much more than just a scorer.

But speaking of scoring, here’s the scoring tear he’s been on as of late:

And by the way, Sexton has played in 75 games this season, each and every single one. Sexton doesn’t look for time off, Sexton doesn’t take breaks, and despite the score or the effort of the guys around him, that attitude is almost always evident on the floor.

He hustles, he dives, he yells into the crowd, he shows emotion. Its not a stat, but in today’s world of NBA hoops, having someone who cares, especially someone who cares when the team is not competitive is gasoline to a fan’s fiery appreciation.

Imagine the emotion if he’s around when the Jazz are good? Based on the leap he’s taken it seems worthwhile to hang around and find out.

Yet, rebuilds, cap space, and future flexibility know no bounds when it comes to Danny Ainge and his long-term game plan.

Collin Sexton has consistently been one of Utah’s best two players this season, sometimes the best player, and is on an affordable contract with the age and timeline to fit what Utah wants, but that doesn’t always guarantee your future.

Just ask Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert. (Contract situation does not apply, comparison based strictly on top player on roster getting shipped away.)