The Jazz acquired former lottery pick Collin Sexton in a sign-and-trade deal last offseason as part of the departure of Donovan Mitchell from Utah. And while at the time the trade seemed to make sense for both sides, Sexton’s role in Utah may not have turned out quite the way either side expected it to.
Now that rumors are swirling, the question is: should the Jazz test the market for a Sexton trade, or should they bring the guard back for another season in Salt Lake City?
Should the Jazz roll the dice on a Collin Sexton trade?
The Alabama product entered the league as one of the most intriguing prospects in his respective draft. Sexton was known as a defensive-minded point guard but showed quickly in his time with the Cavaliers that he could be a versatile scorer on offense as well. Nonetheless, an injury and the addition of Darius Garland in Cleveland as the team’s primary ball handler put Sexton on the outside looking in, hence how he found his way to Utah to begin with.
In Utah, Sexton found his role coming off the bench, which obviously was a different role than previous years. In 48 games with the Jazz, the 24-year-old averaged 14.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 rebounds, shooting 50.6% from field goal range and 39.3% from behind the three-point line. A career-low 23.9 minutes per game for Sexton led to a bit of frustration, and while the stats don’t tell the whole story, the guard’s true fit in Utah has yet to be seen, a telling sign as to why rumors suggest the Jazz have been testing the trade market for Sexton.
For the past month, the Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to the Jazz with a desire to make a move for Sexton. While there’s no real idea what the deal may look like, a package centered around Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton for Sexton may be ideal.
Ultimately, Sexton not only matches the timeline of the Jazz moving forward but also gives the team another option in Utah’s backcourt. Despite the fact that Sexton could be a key contributor off the bench for Utah, if the team and the guard can’t see eye to eye on a role for him with the Jazz, it makes sense for the two sides to move on. Whether it’s to Milwaukee or elsewhere, it wouldn’t be a shock if multiple teams have the “Young Bull” on their radar.