Wild Collin Sexton suggestion may explain why he's still on the Jazz

Though the Utah Jazz were definitely involved in trade rumors throughout most of the 2024 NBA Offseason, there hadn't been much surrounding Collin Sexton, so one can't help but wonder what plans they have for him.

Sexton came to Utah having already established himself as a scorer, but he made a leap last season. In addition to continuing his efficiency as a scorer, Sexton averaged a career-high in assists per game with 4.9. While his previous was 4.4, Sexton put that up in 35.3 minutes a game in his third year with the Cavaliers. The 4.9 dimes he averaged with the Jazz was in nine fewer minutes.

On top of that, Sexton just had his healthiest season since his rookie year, playing 78 hames. So, with all of that in mind, what are the Jazz's plans with Sexton? While some could argue that the end game is to trade him, The Athletic's John Hollinger floated a different direction.

"Collin Sexton had a breakout season in 2023-24 at age 25 and seems like a renegotiate-and-extend candidate next summer if he has another strong season," Hollinger wrote in an October 15 story.

This is the first time throughout the offseason that Sexton has been mentioned as a possible long-term fixture for Utah. Sexton's name has been brought up in previous trade proposals, and while there were rumors involving him, said rumors never picked up much steam.

This may explain why the Jazz kept him

Much like Lauri Markkanen, Sexton is entering his prime. Following his impressive performance last season, he has proven enough that the Jazz don't have much reason not to see what he could be made of a few years down the line.

So, while Sexton could be grouped with the likes of Jordan Clarkson and John Collins ie veterans who are old enough and have reached their peak, he is different from them. He has a solid case that he could get even better.

For him to show that he can get better from here, the Jazz have to expand his role even more this season. Even though Sexton has shown plenty of green flags over the course of last season, Will Hardy hasn't shown complete and total trust in the 25-year-old guard.

26.3 minutes a game for someone like Sexton shows that while Hardy sees his talent, he's not quite ready to hand over the keys. Sexton also has to compete for minutes along with Clarkson, Keyonte George, and Isaiah Collier (when he comes back).

However, while Sexton's integration has been slow, the increase in minutes could show the Jazz see his potential and want him to become the player they want him to be as long as he's handled properly. Sexton has played well enough to earn a good hard look when the 2024-25 season starts.