Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 positive takeaways from minicamp so far

3. Collin Sexton’s physical growth

The first, and most noticeable change to the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been Collin Sexton‘s physical growth. The Young Bull has reportedly added 10-15 pounds of pure muscle as sources close to the team have described him as ‘hulked up.’ We can see the obvious change in his appearance through these photos:

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Sexton had a phenomenal finish to his sophomore season, earning a spot on the NBA’s Rising Stars team and averaging 23.9 points on 49.9 percent shooting in his final 27 games. He showed massive growth as a scorer and his new physique will only benefit him moving forward.

Two of Sexton’s greatest weaknesses are his defense and turnover rate. His short stature and frail frame made him an easy target for opponents. This made him vulnerable on defense. Meanwhile, he was frequently knocked off balance by bigger defenders and would find himself lost in the trees when driving to the rim – often resulting in turnovers.

With more muscle on his side, Sexton will have an easier time finishing around the rim. His broad shoulders will make him more of a rock. Sexton shouldn’t be bothered by contact as much and will likely commit fewer turnovers because of this.

As for his defense, we are now looking at a player with a similar build to a two-time All-Defensive member in Eric Bledsoe. Sexton now has all of the potential to replicate Bledsoe’s effectiveness on defense. His speed and strength should be a recipe for success here.

Sexton will need to continue making better decisions on the floor but his new frame is definitely going to help him take another step forward in his development.