The NBA Draft night proved to be a largely successful one in Utah as their first-round picks include the National Champion Walter Clayton Jr. and a potential generational talent, Ace Bailey.
While supremely talented, there are still doubts around Bailey staying put in Utah, as he had mentioned that it wasn’t a preferred destination for him. And, if the Rutgers star’s pre-draft shenanigans prove anything, it’s that he and his agent are willing to go far to get their way.
With Clayton Jr. set to arrive in Salt Lake City soon, the Utah Jazz could become one of the most exciting young teams in the league if Bailey decides to stay put. And after multiple disappointing seasons since their first seed finish in 2022, Utah is now looking to shake things up, starting with their point guard, Colin Sexton.
Colin Sexton’s Stock Is on the Rise
According to NBA analyst Jake Weinbach, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat are the most realistic trade suitors for Sexton. The 26-year-old guard came to Utah in 2022 after his best scoring season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it appears he could be on the move again.
The Timberwolves, Lakers, and Heat should be regarded as the most realistic trade suitors for Collin Sexton.
Sexton averaged 18.4 points per game on 48% shooting and 40.6% from 3 last season. The 26-year-old guard will be a popular trade candidate during these next few weeks.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) June 27, 2025
The move away from Sexton could make sense from the perspective of roster building, as the Jazz would like to balance their youth with experience and look to bring a veteran presence to the locker room. While a supremely talented guard with a tremendous motor, Sexton’s potential as a star in the league is surely there, but Utah seems to have lost patience after three seasons.
As a 6’3″ guard, Sexton brings everything you could desire to the table. He averaged 18.4 points per game on 48% shooting and 40.6% from beyond the arc last season, showcasing his ability to score efficiently. While he can score in bunches, Sexton’s real value can be seen in the intangibles, as his high motor allows him to be a suffocating presence on the defensive end of the floor.
Although Sexton was brought to Utah as the point guard of their future, teams will most likely be acquiring the guard to come off their bench and lead the second unit. This seems likely as the three teams involved in the Sexton sweepstakes all house established backcourts that they’d like to leave undisturbed.
For the Lakers, boosting their second-unit scoring will be on the agenda after they ranked second-last in bench scoring during the 2024-25 regular season. While Sexton could be the weapon that ensures longer periods of rest for Luka Doncic and the aging LeBron James, it is unclear what the Jazz’s asking price for the guard would be.
Another destination that seems ideal for Sexton would be Minnesota, especially considering the long-standing friendship he shares with Timberwolves’ star Anthony Edwards. Both the guards, being from Atlanta, knew each other growing up and shared a positive relationship.
Edwards is continuing to develop into a leader in this league and has been seen helping his teammates get better, which is seen in Jaden McDaniels’ confidence on offense being unlocked.
The Timberwolves’ timeline would also align with Sexton as the team has been to two straight conference finals in a tough Western Conference, and believe they’re one step away from a championship.
Sexton is expected to be a highly popular name in trade discussions this week, indicating the Jazz might have little interest in retaining him, and could even indicate a strong belief in the upside of their rookie, Walter Clayton Jr.
