AKRON, Ohio _ Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue believes point guard Collin Sexton exemplifies hard work and dedication.
Those traits might help Sexton become the leader the Cavs seek as they embark on the post-LeBron James era.
Sexton is set to begin that journey as the team announced the 19-year-old from Alabama signed his rookie contract on Wednesday.
A league source confirmed a report from Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com that the eighth overall pick in the June 21 draft received a four-year deal that can earn him up to $20.2 million, with a salary of just over $4 million in the first year.
In the NBA, rookie contracts are guaranteed for the first two years.
Sexton is expected to participate in the Cavs' first Summer League game Friday night against the Washington Wizards at Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Sexton, 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, averaged 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 29.9 minutes last season for the Crimson Tide.
Honored as SEC Newcomer of the Year and co-Freshman of the Year, he totaled the third-most points in a season in school history and the most by a freshman.
Sexton will wear No. 2 for the Cavs.
Lue said he's seen Sexton grow as a player over the past two seasons.
"When you look at him two years ago, he wasn't on the circuit as being one of the top players in the country, but he continued to work and he continued to dedicate himself to the game of basketball," Lue said at Sexton's introductory press conference on June 22. "You look at him today _ a lottery pick for the Cavaliers. When you have a guy like this and the kind of story he has and the path to get here, it's unbelievable.
"When you've got guys who work as hard as Collin does, to get to where he wants to get, those are the guys you want on your team, and his toughness, his character, being a great student in the classroom. All that exemplifies what we want to do here in Cleveland and I'm glad he's a part of it."
