When the Los Angeles Lakers made their flurry of free agency signings to kickstart the Luka Doncic retool, Collin Sexton was the name that came as a surprise to most. Their interest in Walker Kessler was known. The rumors of them getting Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili were there before the signings were made official. Sexton snuck in unnoticed by comparison.
The arrival of the new Lakers guard was met with more initial skepticism than his aforementioned peers, too. There was a common criticism of "overpay" that followed all four of them, but Sexton was the one where questions of fit came quickly.
Despite that, there is cautious curiosity to pair with those concerns. Sexton's 2026-27 campaign just won't be as straightforward as the other players who have already appeared in this series of previews.
Collin Sexton's role and expectations with the Lakers in 2026-27
Sexton will be given the task of being the first guard off the bench for the Lakers. Despite only standing at 6-foot-3-inches, the former lottery pick should give Los Angeles good utility by being able to play either spot in an on-ball or off-ball role.
There is aggressiveness to how Sexton attacks the basket. Despite only playing 23.7 minutes a night last season, the former Charlotte Hornets and Chicago bulls guard averaged 9.5 drives per game. There is value to be found in that.
Sexton should also be effective off the catch around the Lakers stars. In 2025-26, the 27-year-old shot 44.5 percent on his catch-and-shoot triples. That will make him easy to plug and play with either Doncic or Austin Reaves.
Paired up with Mamukelashvili, Sexton will be a big part of the duo that is expected to lead the second unit in 2026-27. Effectively playing that role would finally get him a taste of playoff basketball.
Stats and award predictions for Walker Kessler in 2026-27
Sexton may see a bit of a decrease in his averages this season, but that could have more to do with his role and the team he is on rather than just playing poorly. The eight-year vet has hooped with a lot of teams who offered him plenty of offensive freedom due to their lack of competitive aspirations.
The Lakers will not provide that type of leeway. Sexton will be encouraged to lean on his strengths, but there will be a reduction in what is asked of him from a volume perspective. That should dip his numbers across the board when it comes to the pure counting stats.
Sixth Man of the Year conversations are not impossible for him and his skill set. However, with how much Doncic and Reaves should have the basketball, the usage and consequential numbers could fall short of the necessary requirements.
A fair predictions for what his season could look like would be: 11.0 points per game, 3.5 assists per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 1.0 steal per game.
The bottom line with Collin Sexton
Sexton should have good upside as an offensive fit for the Lakers. The bigger picture raises more question marks.
His energetic brand of defense intrigues a lot of people, but the flash is more notable than the production when it comes to that end of the court. Sexton is not the defender his feisty personality sells him as among certain crowds.
With a player option for 2027-28, there will be some concern of Sexton being a flight risk after the season. Couple that with any element of genuinely underperforming and it could actually position him to be traded before the 2027 deadline.
What the Lakers are going to ask of Sexton is within his wheelhouse. It is just a matter of executing and securing his spot for the totality of the 2026-27 season.
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