When the Charlotte Hornets acquired Collin Sexton in a masterful move that had folks around the league scratching their heads, the team may have viewed the second-round pick as the crown jewel of that deal and Sexton as more of a possible trade piece. However, he has proven to be a more valuable asset to the Hornets. The potential problem, though, is that his long-term fit with the franchise is far from seamless.
It would be easy to say that it should just move forward with the veteran guard on the roster. After all, he has so far been a solid plug-and-play piece. Charlotte can slot him into the starting lineup if it feels it needs his energy early in the game against certain matchups. He was used as a reserve in the regular-season opener, and it worked out well for him and the Hornets because of his malleability.
Interestingly, Sexton's fine play could drive up his trade value and allow them to acquire more assets if they decide to go that route. It wouldn't be surprising if that turns out to be the case, as the top brass, led by Jeff Peterson, has shown no problem letting go of key players to expand further its collection of draft assets.
However, the eighth overall pick of the 2018 draft might be a tad irreplaceable for the Hornets, as no one else on their roster is capable of putting pressure on the rim with his downhill drives. In addition, he has appeared to be a positive presence in the locker room and has quickly developed a rapport with their main guy, LaMelo Ball.
Hornets will have to determine what to do with Collin Sexton soon
It's worth noting that keeping Sexton might not be as straightforward as it seems, given his impending free agency. The four-year, $72 million contract he agreed to when he was sent to the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is expiring this season, and it's unclear how much money he will command in the market this coming summer.
While the Hornets have his bird rights and are currently financially flexible to accommodate his possible desire, they will have to reserve some of their cap space for the imminent contract extension of their cornerstones, including Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Perhaps Sexton will be willing to give Charlotte a discount, but we don't know what's on his mind about the matter right now.
It's still too early to decide on Sexton's fate. It would probably be easier if his tenure with the club thus far has not gone so well. Then again, anything can happen between now and the trade deadline, such as the veteran hitting a wall with the Hornets, Tre Mann proving capable of taking over his role, or the team opting to focus more on the future than on this season's results.