Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 reasons Collin Sexton was a good pick

5. Sexton is hungry

One of the Cavaliers’ biggest problems this past season was simple lack of effort, which often manifested on the defensive end of the court, and could have been chalked up to complacency.

Perhaps the team’s veterans had taken their annual trips to the NBA Finals for granted. Perhaps the younger guys were just assuming LeBron would lead them to the mountaintop by force of will. Or maybe the whole team couldn’t buy in 100 percent because LeBron himself hadn’t committed to staying beyond the season.

Whatever the reason, on their way to a four-game series loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, the Cavs looked like a team in need of a jolt of energy and hunger.

Sexton is the answer for those issues.

If you ever questioned what is inside of Sexton, look no further than the night of Nov. 25, 2017, when he led an Alabama team that was playing at a 3-on-5 disadvantage in a comeback effort against Minnesota that just fell short.

Sexton’s demeanor on the court is reminiscent of Russell Westbrook or Allen Iverson. Sometimes his desire to win can be a flaw when he tries to do too much, but on the positive side, his energy is infectious.

If the Cavs continue to contend with LeBron, that energy will help. If they end up starting over without LeBron, that energy can become leadership in the franchise’s next chapter.