There is probably no trade this offseason that is as lopsided as the Charlotte Hornets' acquisition of Collin Sexton and a second-round pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic. Aside from getting the juicy draft asset, the Hornets also managed to land the much better and more serviceable player in Sexton. Coach Charles Lee recently shared what has had him excited about the newcomer, further demonstrating how Charlotte clinched one of the weightiest fleece jobs of the summer.
In an appearance on the Charlotte-based sports radio station WFNZ, Lee discussed the impact Sexton has had on the team so far. He mentioned how the guard has "elevated the intensity" around the Hornets, which is a welcome development, considering how the organization has had a dearth of spirited voices in the locker room in the past years.
Lee also gushed about how the 26-year-old veteran has been a "sociable and in-your-face type guy," which should only help him and the rest of the club establish the chemistry needed to create a contender in Buzz City.
Collin Sexton is going to be extremely valuable for Hornets this season
There are times when it's still tough to imagine how Charlotte was able to pull off the Sexton-Nurkic deal when on the other side of the negotiating table was the highly regarded long-time NBA executive, Danny Ainge. As Dan Favale of Bleacher Report stated, it was a "stroke of brilliance" by Hornets president Jeff Peterson.
The former lottery pick is expected to boost the Hornets' struggling offense. However, an underrated aspect of the move was that it provided them with a possible trade piece if they plan on making a bigger deal during the regular season. And if the Sexton addition doesn't pan out? He is going to be a free agent in the summer of 2026, so there's little to no downside to picking him up from the Jazz.
Charlotte is probably hoping, though, that he will be exactly what the doctor ordered for the squad because of his shot-creating and playmaking prowess. Due to how Sexton's tenure in Utah turned out, it's easy to forget that he averaged 24.3 points per game in the 2020-21 campaign when he was still a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, two seasons ago, he dished out 4.9 assists per contest for the Jazz.
Maybe Lee is already salivating at the idea that he doesn't have to rely solely on LaMelo Ball to initiate the team's offense. Moreover, Sexton could serve as insurance in case Ball and Brandon Miller have to spend time on the sidelines again, although no one in Charlotte is wishing for that to transpire.
It's worth noting that beyond his contributions on the hardwood floor, Sexton's value also lies in the intensity he brings day in and day out. Hopefully, his teammates will get infected and manifest that attribute on a similarly consistent basis.