NBA Bounce Back Candidate #2: Colin Sexton
Some people might say including Collin Sexton isn’t fair because he only played 11 games after tearing his left meniscus. I would tend to agree, but before he went down, he had reported issues with not only his teammates but his game overall. While he is a very talented offensive player, it was mostly just getting his own shots. The rumors constantly swirled about how he wasn’t a good threat off the ball and wasn’t feeding the players around him enough.
It reportedly got tense towards his end with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it absolutely hurt his reputation around the league. In the end, he was a part of the trade package that netted the Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell along with multiple picks. The former Alabama product is now with the rebuilding Utah Jazz, where he is going to have a lot of touches.
Still, he is still going to have to earn his place with the likes of Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Malik Beasley on the team. That being said, it’s probable that Utah trades one or two of those players for more draft capital as they look to acquire the top pick in the 2023 draft. Either way, Sexton has an opportunity to go under the radar on a small-market team that’s rebuilding and truly grow as a player.
I fully expect that the new scenery, along with the helpful veterans, is going to help him make strides in his game. His usage and touches should only increase as the season goes on, and he is still just 23 years old and has plenty of time to work on his weaknesses. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him in the running for the Most Improved Player award down the line.