The competition to become the Jazz‘s starting point guard is expected to be wide open entering training camp this fall, with Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, and even rookie Keyonte George all considered candidates for the job.
Appearing at the Powder League, a popular pro-am summer league in Utah, Sexton told Tony Jones of The Athletic that he intends to do all he can to prove that he deserves that starting point guard role following an injury-plagued 2022/23 season.
“I want to show that I’m back and healthy and 100 percent,” Sexton said. “Every year for me is important, so I don’t put too much pressure on myself from that standpoint. I’m my biggest critic, so I’m always going to have a lot of expectations for myself.
“I’ve been watching a lot of film this summer. I want to be able to try and take over the point guard role. I want to show them that I can run the show. I’m getting back into the groove of things. I think this season is going to be fun.”
Mike Conley was Utah’s starting point guard last season until the trade deadline, when he was sent to Minnesota in a three-team deal that also included the Lakers. The Jazz acquired Russell Westbrook in that trade, but he was bought out before ever appearing in a game for the team, opening up the point guard spot.
Although Horton-Tucker finished last season as Utah’s starting point guard, he’s not a traditional distributor. Neither are Sexton or Clarkson, who are both score-first combo guards. Dunn is perhaps the most prototypical point guard on the roster, but he’s on a non-guaranteed contract and has only appeared in 40 games over the past three seasons, so it’s not as if he’ll be handed the job.
Sexton has shown off an impressive ability to score over the course of his five-year career, posting 19.0 points per game on .464/.380/.826 shooting. However, he has averaged just 3.2 assists – compared to 2.4 turnovers – in his 266 regular season contests, and is undersized as a defender. Still, he’s confident he can handle the duties required of a point guard.
“When it comes to making the right plays, I know that I’m capable of doing it,” Sexton said. “I just have to go out and do it. But knowing this season is going to be important for me and for us as a team, I’m excited. I think that we have a chance to be really good.”
Sexton was limited to 48 appearances last season and started just 15 of them. While the 24-year-old would like to start more often this season, he’s willing to accept a reserve role if it’s for the good of the team.
“Everyone has to buy in for a common goal this season, and that’s to win,” he told Jones. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. If we win, everything takes care of itself. And if we win, everybody eats. So that’s the way that we all have to look at things going into camp and into the season.”
Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton are almost redundant. Perfect Gunslingers Off the Bench who can handle a little bit, shoot it a lot, and provide Firepower and a spark. Probably given the chance at the starting point guard spot, but if Sexton fails you might see him traded.
Sexton isn’t a bad ball-handler, it’s just not been his role except as a rookie, and he wasn’t ready then. Now that he’s more experienced and mature, I think he can do it. His work ethic has always been great, and he’s got the court vision to make it happen.
I think Dunn will emerge as the guy. He looked good at the end of last season. THT or Sexton will be traded.
Sexton played 1 year at the point on a Cavaliers team that had just lost LeBron and Kyrie. Results weren’t great because he was a rookie on a bad team. The Cavaliers then drafted Darius Garland and moved Sexton to shooting guard. For the next 2 seasons Sexton was the only threat the Cavaliers had. He still dished about 4 and a half assists from the 2 guard spot. He scored 20 the first year with Garland and 24.3 per game the 2nd year. By that time they had traded for Allen and drafted Mobley. When they pulled of a sign and trade deal for Markkanen suddenly they appeared ready to win. Unfortunately Sexton got hurt after 11 game and Rubio after 32. So a team that looked like a contender at that year’s all star break fel apart and missed the playoffs. If Sexton is healthy I have no doubt he can run the show. He is an efficient scorer who can score 25 or so points a game and 6 to 8 assists . He’s relentless and has a high motor. Clarkson could slide over to the 2vguard slot giving Utah 3 twenty point a game scorers. With Kessler, Markkanen and Agbaji the team will have more than enough defense to be competitive in a loaded Western Conference. Ideally Sexton might be a 30 point scorer as a 2 guard on a team with traditional point guard. Utah doesn’t have one of those and Clarkson and Agbaji make more sense as Shooting guards. Sexton is a true combo guard. No one will outwork Sexton.
Even as a secondary facilitator on a team, you can still pass and get assists.
How can you not get assists with Love, Osman, Prince, Garland, Markannen shooting? He gets an excuse with Drummond. When not scoring (his role), there are other opportunities to screen, cut, moving without ball, or pass.
Sexton just didn’t or couldn’t. I think he
Yes he is still raw.
Dunn will probably earn it the hard way…
It’ll be interesting to see what trader Danny cooks up to change this roster throughout the season…
Sexton has always been a guy that once he gets his eye on the bucket then that’s where he’s going, come hell or high water. He’s amazing at hitting difficult shots in the paint whether it be a pull up, floater or dunk/layup. The problem is he’s just never been a good passer out of those situations.
This will be year 6 and hopefully under the guidance of Hardy he’s worked on that. If he has, the combo of him and Markkanen will be lethal and Utah will be a very good team that’s still a player or two short of true contention. That’s where all those picks come in, they have the salaries and picks to trade for a star.
UTH doesn’t have a PG, and its probably by design (a stealth form of tanking). Other than (maybe) Dunn, the guys mentioned aren’t even average facilitators. It only makes the competition for the spot more intense. The guy who wins the job will at least have the ball in his hands to start most possessions. If Dunn wins the job, he’ll likely be a nominal starter, and competition will be for the minutes behind him.
Utah runs a five out offense so they don’t really need a facilitator. They’re also not tanking stealth or otherwise. Outside of Kessler every player in Utah’s starting five is entering their 5-6th season whether it’s Sexton or Dunn that get the starting nod. If they were tanking they would’ve went all in last season when the prize was Wembamya, Miller or Henderson.
Utah is star hunting, they have the picks and pieces to make a run at any star player that shakes lose. I believe much like last season they’ll start the season playing well then as they near the trade deadline they’ll attempt to make a big trade. If there’s nothing there then they’ll dial it back and try to get a favorable draft position.
Tanking is a FO undertaking, and mostly an offseason and deadline one. UTH’s FO made sure the team got worse at the deadline, pretty boldly. Of course it was for favorable draft position. That’s what tanking is. This offseason they’ve been more subtle, just refraining from any significant improvements. They believe (as would most) that with this group of guards, they can’t compete over 82. You sound supportive of it.
Did the team run a “five out” offense last year? What was the team’s W/L record before, and then after, the Conley trade? Saying a team doesn’t require facilators is like saying they don’t requre scorers or defenders.
They “boldly” traded a aging PG for a pick when they had several other guys than can play that position for them. They were 22-21 with Conley and 15-23 without. It’s significant but it’s not like they fell completely off. A team that is tanking doesn’t play four vets in the starting lineup and they don’t acquire a starter level PF like Collins after spending a lottery pick on a player that plays the same position such as Hendricks.
Yes, after watching approximately 45 Jazz Games last season as they are my local FS1 affiliate’s market team I can definitively say that Will Hardy runs a 5-out offense. Early in the season it was a true 5-out then they tweaked it with the emergence of Kessler. I’m not going to explain all the nuances of that style of offense to you but no you don’t need a primary facilitator. Everybody on the floor has to be proficient at passing the ball as everyone else who doesn’t have the ball is constantly cutting, screening or spotting up to shoot. When a player receives the ball they make a split second decision to drive, pass or shoot. Markannen and Olynyk made as many entry passes to cutters and kickouts to shooters as Conley, Clarkson and Sexton did.
Sexton is not a PG ……
His best role is as sixth man. Or a system like the Warriors.
Yes and no. The system does matter as you mentioned. Sexton reminds me of curry. Curry is more a combo guard as he can facilitate or shoot or simply take over a game. Nothing wrong with curry.
If sexton can master other aspects of his game with his talents then maybe it won’t matter like curry. Everybody loves curry!
Sexton needs to figure it all out but we know he can score as a micro scorer. Very quick and hard worker m. Good guy
Hope Sexton gets the starting job.
Many believe he’s that sixth man type player but in Utah he can’t really do that cause they have Jordan Clarkson who’s locked in doing that for them which makes him redundant.
I think Sexton is clearly the best fit among the other guards. He can play in or off the ball which is clear from his time in Cleveland where in his rookie year he was the lead guard and in his 2nd and 3rd season where he played off ball to Garland. He’s great at shooting the 3 ball, he’s great at driving the lane and finishing inside and he can be a secondary playmaker. He averages almost 20 points per game over his career, and reminds me a lot of DeAaron Fox. He’s a much better shooter but not as good of a playmaker but both have that attack the rim, quick first step and aggressiveness about their games.
At times he can be poor defensively but when locked in he’s actually pretty decent with on ball defence. He’s not as good as Kris Dunn on defence but he’s still alright.
Playing of Lauri who will lead the offence, I think you want Colin with your starters. He offers floor spacing, secondary playmaking, ability to attack the interior and isn’t a complete liability on defence. Keyonte isn’t exactly a shooter and John Collins can shoot but he’s not exactly a shooter. Jazz will need the floor spacing