Sir'Dom Pointer
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Something occurred to me this morning and I have yet to see anyone make the most obvious player comparison for this kid. I've seen exhaustive comparisons of Sexton to Westbrook... I've seen him called a poor man's AI, and compared to a variety of guards in ways that just don't fit.
Why hasn't anyone brought up the obvious similarities Sexton has to Victor Oladipo?
VO is a little taller and longer than Sexton. I think Sexton might be a little faster/quicker. VO came out of a more disciplined college system and Sexton was required to freelance in a more undisciplined system with a lesser surrounding cast. But other than those differences I think there's a LOT of similarities in their games.
Both guys seem to get to the rim at will. Both guys have a bulldog mentality. Both guys are explosive and beat defenders with speed and a quick first step.
You said this was Lue's pick but when I think about how Gilbert whiffed on VO when he could have made the executive decision to over-rule Grant/Griffin's choice of Anthony Bennett? I'd bet anything that Gilbert sees a lot of VO in Sexton, so he was hell bent on scratching that itch that lingered since 2013 when the Cavs blew that pick on Bennett. Especially after watching VO shred our defense in the first round this year.
I think this kid could be a slightly shorter, slightly quicker version of VO and that would be a pretty good ceiling.
I can get behind the comparison because I like Oladipo lol.
Don't downplay the size differences though. Oladipo is legit 6'3.25 without shoes, has 6'9 wingspan and 8'4.5 standing reach. Sexton is 6'0.5 without shoes, 6'7.25 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach.(His reach was 8.0.5 a year ago which is interesting)
He also played bigger everywhere. On the boards, at the rim and on defense.
Oladipo was a worse shooter than Sexton. So we can absolutely be hopeful in that respect.
What Oladipo showed us in the playoffs and in the RS us that penetrating combo guards that can shoot off the dribble can absolutely be lethal and cause havoc. So I really like that part of the comparison.
I just can't believe we passed on such a talent in Oladipo for fucking Bennett. I can't comprehend that. Oladipo was such a ridiculous player as a junior.