Projecting the 20 most promising young duos in the NBA
By Amaar Burton
18. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)
A lot of eyebrows were raised when the Cleveland Cavaliers used the No. 5 pick in the 2019 draft on Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland. Not only because Garland played in just five college games before a knee injury ended his season, but also because the Cavs used last year’s No. 8 pick on Alabama point guard Collin Sexton.
First-year Cleveland coach John Beilein appears to be confronting the potential positional logjam head-on by planning to start Sexton and Garland in the same backcourt.
If it works out, the Cavs could have an offensively potent duo that can eventually thrive in a guard-dominated league.
Beilein on who will play 1/2 between Garland and Sexton: "Doesn't make a difference." Says positionless lineup with two guards, two forwards and one big is what he'll go with. #Cavs
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) June 21, 2019
Sexton, 20 years old, averaged 16.7 points and 3.0 assists per game last season, shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range. He was voted All-Rookie Second Team.
Garland, 19, averaged 16.2 points and 2.6 assists in his NCAA cameo, making 47.8 percent of his 3-pointers.
While Sexton was being tested against the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors, though, Garland’s toughest opponent was Liberty University. Question marks remain concerning his health and his readiness for the next level.
All-Star power forward Kevin Love is currently billed as the face of the Cavs franchise, but Sexton and Garland are being positioned as the faces of its future.