Tag: collin sexton

NBA insider names eight potential trade targets for the Lakers

Who could the Lakers go after in a trade either this summer or before this winter’s trade deadline?

At this point in the offseason, after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to sign any free agents, the only way they can upgrade their roster is through a trade. While they have a good roster that should make the playoffs if they stay relatively healthy, they don’t seem to be championship contenders by any stretch.

The Lakers’ needs are (in no particular order) an upgrade in terms of a ball-handling guard with better quickness and defense, a 3-and-D wing and a serviceable defensive center.

According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, there are eight players to watch as far as possible trade targets for Los Angeles: Darius Garland, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter is someone who could solve the Lakers’ need for another legitimate center other than Anthony Davis. Although he has been injury-prone, he has shown the ability to rebound and occasionally hit 3-pointers.

Garland and Sexton would represent possible backcourt upgrades for the Lakers, while Brown, Johnson and Finney-Smith are intriguing 3-and-D wings.

Grant is someone the Lakers have been rumored to have serious interest in this summer. Having averaged 21.0 points a game this past summer, he could give them a legitimate third scoring option and another 3-point sniper, and he’s also a pretty good defender.

Markkanen would be the loftiest target on this list. He put up 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over the last two seasons while making the All-Star team in the 2022-23 campaign, and a number of teams are thought to be after his services.

The Lakers have limited trade assets, but their upcoming first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031 could be seen as valuable by some other team.

Lakers could target Jazz guard Collin Sexton

The Lakers could have an additional trade target in addition to the ones that have been frequently mentioned.

On Monday, JJ Redick was officially introduced as the Los Angeles Lakers’ new head coach, and regardless of how people feel about his hiring, he will not be able to succeed unless the Lakers give him a strong roster to work with.

They can go in one of a few directions as far as upgrading that roster, and one of those directions is upgrading in the backcourt, especially in terms of a ball-handling, facilitating guard.

Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz was mentioned by two ESPN writers as a possible trade target for Los Angeles.

Via ESPN:

“The Lakers likely will explore the trade market to see what type of veterans they can add to give LeBron James, Anthony Davis and new coach J.J. Redick the best chance of competing this season, with NBA names such as Dejounte Murray and Collin Sexton being batted around by rival teams as possible targets.”

While the Lakers went after Murray prior to the trade deadline, Sexton is a name that hasn’t come up much. Sexton isn’t perhaps a natural facilitator, but he is a young backcourt stud who can score.

This season, he averaged 18.7 points a game on 48.7% field-goal shooting and 39.4% from 3-point range, and he has gotten as high as 24.3 points per contest three seasons ago.

At age 25, the 6-foot-3 guard could also be someone who takes the Lakers into the post-LeBron James era and keeps them competitive after the future Hall of Famer leaves the team.

Hypothetical NBA trade has former Alabama stars joining forces

Collin Sexton and Brandon Miller on the same team? See why some believe it’s a possibility.

The NBA has a handful of talented stars who were once standouts for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Whether it be lottery picks or second-round selections that worked their way onto the court, the league is starting to feel the Tide’s presence.

Collin Sexton, of the Utah Jazz, and Brandon Miller, of the Charlotte Hornets, were two fan favorites in Tuscaloosa during their collegiate days. Both being one-and-done players, they had an immense impact on the program in their respective single seasons.

Sexton played under former head coach Avery Johnson, while Miller was one of the biggest recruiting victories for current head coach Nate Oats. The two NBA standouts have never been teammates, but they are one trade away from changing that.

Jack Simone of Swarm and Sting recently put together a few trades the Hornets should explore as the 2024 NBA draft approaches.

With the No. 6 overall pick, Charlotte may look to leverage that as a trade piece to land a player with experience to guide the young, but talented, franchise to success.

Simone proposes the Hornets send the No. 6 pick, a protected future first-round pick and Davis Bertans in exchange for Sexton and the No. 10 overall pick from the Jazz.

“Throughout the course of his career, Sexton has made a name for himself as a hard-nosed player who always gives his all when he’s on the court. The Hornets could use a guy like that.

“He’s a bit undersized, but with the constant energy he brings to the court, he could help Charles Lee transform how the Hornets play on that end of the floor.”

There’s no indication that this trade is impending, but it is interesting to consider it as a possibility, especially as experts believe that numerous trades are inevitable as the draft approaches.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama basketball players in the NBA as the 2024 offseason begins.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Mock trade sees Spurs trade No. 8 pick in deal for Collin Sexton

In this mock trade, the San Antonio Spurs would swap top-10 picks while also adding Collin Sexton.

The San Antonio Spurs could shake things up this summer. Jeje Gomez of Pounding the Rock suggested a mock trade that would flip the eighth pick, the Charlotte Hornets’ 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected), Malaki Branham, and Devonte’ Graham to the Utah Jazz for Collin Sexton and the 10th pick.

“The Spurs are rumored to be interested in Darius Garland, but Garland’s former backcourt partner could be the better get for a team that probably shouldn’t be committing long-term to any lead guard who might not fit alongside Victor Wembanyama,” Gomez wrote. “While Garland has four years left on a contract that pays him an average of over $39 million, Sexton is making under $19 million a year for the next two seasons. Garland is arguably the superior player, but their numbers from last season are strikingly similar, with Sexton getting an edge in most categories. Granted, the Cavaliers were a playoff team spearheaded by a high-volume scorer that replicated what Garland does best, but Sexton scored and assisted at a career-high level on a team with less talent. If what the Spurs are after is an explosive scorer and creator, the cheaper Sexton fits the bill.

“The Jazz might not be willing to part with a player who had a resurgence last season, especially for the possibility of climbing two spots, likely getting two seconds from the Hornets, and getting a crack at Branham. But it’s tough to assess what Utah is doing, and the franchise selected point guard Keyonte George with one of their first-rounders last season and might want to re-sign veteran Kris Dunn after his impressive year, making Sexton redundant.”

Bringing in Sexton while also keeping two top-10 picks would be an intriguing move for San Antonio.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Utah Jazz trading for former Alabama PG Kira Lewis Jr.

Former Alabama PG Kira Lewis traded from New Orleans to Utah

Former Alabama point guard [autotag]Kira Lewis Jr.[/autotag] is on the move to Salt Lake City as part of a trade between the Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors. The Jazz traded away C Kelly Olynyk and G Ochai Agbaji to the Raptors in exchange for Lewis, F Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick.

Alabama fans may as well go ahead and buy their Jazz jerseys now as Lewis will get to share a backcourt with Collin Sexton. The former 2020 first-round draft started the year with the New Orleans Pelicans but was traded to Toronto on Jan. 17. Lewis only appeared in one game with the Raptors.

Lewis has averaged just under ten minutes a game and 2.8 ppg, 1.1 apg and 0.9 rpg. The Jazz are currently the 10-seed in the Western conference and will have no aspirations of a title in 2024. So, hopefully, they use this time to develop their young assets.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Takeaways: In pivotal game, Alperen Sengun’s career night lifts Rockets over Jazz

In a game with potentially large standings implications, Alperen Sengun tied his career high with 37 points as Houston rallied past Utah in overtime.

HOUSTON — In a game with potentially significant standings implications, Rockets center Alperen Sengun led the way with a career-high-tying 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists in Saturday’s thrilling 127-126 overtime win (box score) over the Jazz. A rising All-Star candidate, Sengun made 15-of-26 shots (57.7%) for the game, often while facing strong defense from Utah’s Walker Kessler.

With Saturday’s result in, Houston (20-21) and Utah (22-22) are currently separated by a half-game in an extremely tight race for the final two play-in tournament spots in the Western Conference.

Sengun and rookie Amen Thompson each had a key late block for the Rockets, who played the final two minutes of regulation and overtime without Fred VanVleet, who fouled out. Houston’s veteran floor general finished with 18 points and 7 assists.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). Smith’s free throw in the final minute of overtime was the decisive point, though it came at a cost, since he subsequently limped off with a sprained left ankle (which occurred on the foul leading to free throws).

Fellow rookie Cam Whitmore was impressive with 17 points and 5 rebounds in 27 reserve minute, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point range (66.7%). That helped Houston survive another off night from starter Jalen Green, who had 7 points while missing all six of his 3-pointers.

The Jazz were led by veteran guards Jordan Clarkson (33 points) and Collin Sexton (28 points). But despite combining to score 61, each missed a close shot in the final 40 seconds of overtime that could have put Utah in front. The Jazz had won 12 of their previous 15 games going in, while the Rockets were coming off a 1-5 road trip.

Here’s our look at Saturday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Toyota Center, along with reaction by media members and fans. Houston continues its homestand with night two of a back-to-back on Sunday versus Boston (32-10), with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central.

Lakers reportedly have interest in trading for Tyus Jones, Collin Sexton

The Lakers want to land a speedy point guard, and they have other targets besides the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 20-21 at the exact midway point of their schedule, and just about everyone believes they need some outside help to turn things around.

They have most of the core that took them to last season’s Western Conference finals, but they lack 3-point shooting and can also use some speed and burst at the point guard position.

Right now, their biggest trade targets seem to be the Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray, who would give them a speedy scoring guard who can also facilitate and defend. But the price for him could be steep.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported L.A. is also looking at possibly targeting the Washington Wizards’ Tyus Jones and Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz.

Jones may not be the attractive trade piece Lakers fans are hoping for, but he is a very solid lead guard who is averaging 12.8 points and 5.6 assists a game this season. He’s also shooting a very robust 52% from the field and 42% from 3-point range.

Sexton, meanwhile, is more of a scoring threat, although he may not be a true facilitator. He’s putting up 16.9 points and 3.9 assists in just 23.5 minutes a game while shooting 48.9% overall and 37.1% from downtown this season.

Alabama in NBA: How former Tide players have performed up to this point in the season

The Alabama men’s basketball team is well-represented in the NBA. Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at how some of the alumni are perfoming at the professional level.

Over the years, the Alabama men’s basketball program has placed players in the NBA. Despite Alabama being known predominantly for its football prowess, the Crimson Tide has stepped up in a big way in the last six years.

Since 2018, Alabama has had seven players drafted by NBA front offices. Not to mention, five of the seven that were chosen were first-round picks.

Basketball has become more meaningful in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It has turned into a hotbed for some of the top prospects in college basketball.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down how former Tide players have performed in the NBA up to this point in the season.

Utah Jazz making Collin Sexton available in trade discussions

Collin Sexton could be traded by the Utah Jazz

After just one year with the Utah Jazz, it appears that former Alabama basketball superstar [autotag]Collin Sexton[/autotag] could have a new home ahead of the 2023 season. Sexton was originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2018 NBA draft, but after his fourth year in the league, he was part of a trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Sexton, former Auburn stand-out Walker Kessler and other assets.

The 2023 NBA draft takes place Thursday evening and the Jazz currently hold the No. 9 overall selection. Utah is rumored to have an interest in drafting a guard as they have made Sexton available in trade talks, according to recent reports from Yahoo’s Jake Fischer, so there is a very solid chance that he gets moved during the draft.

Sexton is only one year into a four-year, $72 million contract and will have plenty of suitors on the market. The Wizards, Hornets, Clippers and Bucks are reported to have the most interest, but a 24-year-old PG on a team-friendly deal will have options. Sexton shot over 50% from the field and 39.3% from 3 point range in 2022-2023. Sexton had a career-low in both points and rebounds with the Jazz, so it appears as if the move would be best for him as well.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor the trade rumors surrounding Sexton.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Every Alabama basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft since 2000

Every Alabama basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft since 2000!

The Alabama men’s basketball program may not be the NBA pipeline like Duke or Kansas, but the Tide has produced its fair share of talent to the league over the years.

As we countdown to the hours until the start of the 2023 NBA draft, we continue to take a deep dive into what to expect from this year’s draft and also reflect on what Alabama has done in previous drafts.

Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney will both likely be selected in the first round on Thursday night adding to Alabama’s NBA draft pedigree.

While we await NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver to open up the 2023 NBA draft, let’s take a look back at every Alabama player to be selected in the NBA since 2000.