Would Collin Sexton make sense as Celtics trade target this offseason?
The Celtics could use some help at the point guard spot next season in the wake of trading starter Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder last week. Marcus Smart is fully capable of handling the starting job in Walkers absence but the team may be on the hunt for a bit of a scoring boost to better replace Walkers 20 points per game average. Smarts own future with the team is uncertain beyond this upcoming season as he enters the final year of his contract in 2021-22. One high-scoring point guard who has emerged as a potential option on the trade market this offseason is Collin Sexton. According to a new report from Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, Cleveland has begun to explore trade options involving the 22-year-old guard. Sexton averaged a team-high 24.3 PPG and 4.4 APG this past season for a rebuilding Cavs squad that went 22-50. With another young point guard already under contract in Darius Garland, Cleveland may be looking to commit to one over the other before both are due big contracts once their rookie deals expire. The main appeal of Sexton for the Celtics would be his scoring and cheap salary. Hes only making $6.3 million during the 2021-22 season which would fit well on a Boston payroll that has little room for spending flexibility on the free-agent market due to the big money owed to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford. However, the reason why Sexton is available in the first place on the trade market is a big reason why Boston probably wont have much interest in acquiring the young guard. Sexton will be looking for a big payday during the next offseason coming off his rookie deal. The Celtics just managed to clear up a good chunk of salary cap space for the next two summers by dumping Walkers pricy contract and could be planning to go after a big name via trade or free agency with that added flexibility. Giving up assets for Sexton as just a one-year rental would not make a lot of sense for Boston if they have bigger ambitions on who they want to put next to Brown and Tatum over the long term. The Celtics arent close enough to contending with their current roster where a guy like Sexton would make a meaningful difference in raising their ceiling, even if he would a big boost for the teams offensive attack. The other issue with Sexton largely stems from his size. He lacks strength and height at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, which makes him a constant target for opposing offenses in the pick-and-roll and the post. The Cavs have routinely had one of the worst defenses in the NBA during his first three seasons and he was a factor in that tough track record. Brad Stevens has seen Bostons point guards over the past decade be a constant defensive target for opposing offenses due to their size limitations (Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker) and likely wouldnt want to add that kind of vulnerability to the roster again if it costs serious assets in a trade. Payton Pritchard does not have anywhere near Sextons offensive upside as a player but he can provide some of the 3-point shooting that makes Sexton appealing as an offensive weapon at a far cheaper cost for the long-term. Despite his impressive scoring numbers, its no clear yet that Sexton is a top-20 point guard in this league due to his defensive limitations. With the Celtics looking to rebuild towards contending in the East in the next couple of seasons around their core, Sexton does not have the versatile skillset that likely appeals to Stevens and the front office. Given the asking price involved for the former No. 8 overall pick from Cleveland, this is one potential option at point guard Boston is likely to pass on.