Which Young Player Will Have the Largest Improvement Next Season?

[KqWIN]

There is a difference between hoping/ thinking something is possible vs expecting something to happen. I don't think it's fair to Hendricks to expect him to be improved.

From his rookie season? I think he will be improved. You can never really know the extent of injuries, but gap years for young players seem to lead to development regularly. I expect him to be better, but Cody would be my pick for the most improved given how low his starting point is. If you thought he was due for big improvement after his rookie year I don't think it's an unreasonable pick.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

From his rookie season? I think he will be improved. You can never really know the extent of injuries, but gap years for young players seem to lead to development regularly. I expect him to be better, but Cody would be my pick for the most improved given how low his starting point is. If you thought he was due for big improvement after his rookie year I don't think it's an unreasonable pick.

I'm expecting him to look lost and very uncomfortable on the court and playing at NBA speeds. I would also not blame him for looking hesitant after the type of injury he had. His injury was pretty horrific.

 

[KqWIN]

I'm expecting him to look lost and very uncomfortable on the court and playing at NBA speeds. I would also not blame him for looking hesitant after the type of injury he had. His injury was pretty horrific.

I expect some of that, but I also think he will have improved (using rookie season as comparison). If TH establishes himself as an NBA caliber player this year, you could argue that makes the biggest improvement for the franchise.

There are honestly so many ways to define "most improved". Cody may be the most improved player in an absolute sense because his starting point is so low, but it may not represent the most impactful improvement to go from 450th best player to 350th best player or whatever. It would take a monumental leap to get to where he was to even replacement level. A slight improvement from Kessler is probably more important going forward than Cody showing small signs of life.

Key and Sensbaugh could level up, but their archetypes make it hard to make it very impactful because the players they could become are not very valuable and less they take monstrous leaps. Flip is also defensively challenged, but guys like him are still getting paid so maybe he can be that guy. I don't think it's unrealistic for Flip to get close to a Naz Reid type level, and he got $125M this summer.

A simple shooting improvement from Collier could make him the most improved in all aspects, but I really don't have much hope for his shot.

 

[LogGrad98]

I was also going to say Cody. Statistically speaking, that rookie year was one of the worst seasons anybody has ever had. Could only go up from there right? Right?

Nope. For many players like that their next stop is Europe or Asia or permanent g-league. It can most definitely go down

 

[fishonjazz]

Tay Henny looks amazing physically.
I think that will translate to better play on the court