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Rookie Contract Power Rankings

I will say, if Keyonte has another awful month in terms of his body language/defense/ball-handling (and how the body language consistently impacts the latter two) I will drop him down my rankings.

Conversely, if Sensibaugh continues to shoot lights out and makes some progress in how he plays in terms of decision making, I will move him up.
 
No updates right now, but Sensabaugh has impressed me lately now that he's in more of a shooter role and doing a bit less with the ball.
 
1. Kessler
2. Keyonte
3. Flip
4. Sensabaugh
5. Cody
6. Collier

Flip/Sens are close and interchangeable for me, everyone else is in exact order.
 
Walker(locked as future key piece)




Taylor(depends on his recovery but his role is set)
Brice(having a secret breakout year as a bench scorer with decent efficiency)
Filip(great skillset, but needs a more consistent role)
Key/Collier/Cody(will take a lot convincing to get their next contract)
 
  1. Walker
    • Showing out really well. Only negative I can really say at this point is FT shooting.
  2. Keyonte
    • Has improved a lot before the injury. Starting to be more efficient. Defense still bad, but I'm pretty confident he's at least a 6th man quality rotation player in the league.
  3. Sensabaugh
    • He's become a great shooter. Starting to do less, which is good. Just focused on scoring and shooting. His defense is solid too. When he gets more comfortable he might have some playmaking upside, but he still has too many moments where he makes bad/late passes or tries to do too much handling. I could see him overtaking Keyonte if his improvements keep happening. The Sixers game was definitely an evolution for him as he seemed very confident/comfortable.
  4. Filipowski
    • It's been rough for him since the injury. Still makes some great passes/plays, but the scoring ability has completely fallen off. Seems like the length of the season has taken a toll on him.
  5. Willliams
    • Has had some decent moments since coming back from the G. Still a trainwreck waiting to happen in the halfcourt.
  6. Collier
    • Just really bad atm. Has some flashes with his strength/speed going downhill, but has terrible passes/handling that are somewhat baffling.
 
A sidenote:

Even with some of the rookies looking like potential bust (Cody/Collier), Potter/Juzang have been very good. I could see them both being back-end rotation players on a playoff team. It's kind of unfortunate for them that Collier/Williams get some priority because of their draft position (and probably the desire to lose).

Potter feels automatic from the corner and Juzang has become a legitimate shooter.
 
Walker(locked as future key piece)




Taylor(depends on his recovery but his role is set)
Brice(having a secret breakout year as a bench scorer with decent efficiency)
Filip(great skillset, but needs a more consistent role)
Key/Collier/Cody(will take a lot convincing to get their next contract)
Brice bumped to #2 on my list now.
 
Time for an update:

  1. Walker Kessler
    • Not only has he been the best rookie contract player, there's an argument he's been our best player this year. I've noticed him doing a bit more daring things on offense, like using his body to bump people to go up strong, and even last night he attempted a dribble drive when he was being overplayed.
  2. Isaiah Collier
    • Has been a revelation since January. Has great vision and a high level combination of strength/speed. Shooting/Scoring is still a huge question mark that might hold him back from realizing his potential, but I'm very intrigued and he's been fun to watch. I would probably bet on Keyonte over Collier, but Collier has more upside if he can fix his weaknesses.
  3. Keyonte George
    • Has his ups and downs, but I still believe in his ability. His passing has been great. His shooting is still hit/miss, and I continue to be disappointed by his ability to finish drives and just overall generate easy scoring opportunities for himself. I do think Keyonte could benefit from bulking back up a bit after the massive weight loss he had from his Baylor year to his rookie year.
  4. Kyle Filipowski
    • Kind of a toss up between him and Brice, but Flip's passing ability is such a joy to watch. He can't defend anyone currently. Still seems to lack the confidence he had after the early season breakout.
  5. Brice Sensabaugh
    • He shoots it well but doesnt really do anything else that gets me excited. Still think Juzang is the better overall player/prospect. Wouldnt mind trading Brice if there is someone out there who really liked him in the draft, but was worried about the knee and now sees him healthy/shooting well and wants in.
  6. Cody Williams
    • A true tank commander. Get well soon Captain.
 
There's something going on with Will Hardy and Brice. For whatever reason, Brice isn't being given the minutes or green light that other guys have been. It's not like the minutes are going to Cody, Svi or Juzang.
 
So this is what I had before the season:
1 Cody (drops to 4)
2 Keyonte (stays at 2)
3 Filipowski (drops to 5)
4 Kessler (moves up to 1)
5 Sensabaugh (moves up to 3)
6 Hendricks (drops to 7)
7 Collier (moves up to 6)

Now, I'd say it's more like this:
1 Kessler -- He's shaken off his sophomore slump to be one of our most consistent players, also desired by other teams.
2 Keyonte -- He needs to play in a more tightly defined role, but he'll be a starting-caliber, 20/4/4 guy in a year or two.
3 Brice -- Bankable shooter with a few counters, but doesn't offer much else yet. Fringe starter and versatile rotation player.
4 Williams -- He needs to work on his body. Full stop. He becomes a plus perimeter defender the minute has has some physical presence.
5 Flip -- Serviceable backup 4/5; still a lot of potential to work with, but doesn't do anything at a particularly high level yet (defense, rebounding, shooting, scoring)
6 Collier -- Still a backup point guard with limited shooting, but he's making strides. He's playing for the Jazz because he's the only point guard we have.
7 Hendricks -- coming off a tough injury at a critical time in his development makes him a 'wait-and-see.'
 
So this is what I had before the season:
1 Cody (drops to 4)
2 Keyonte (stays at 2)
3 Filipowski (drops to 5)
4 Kessler (moves up to 1)
5 Sensabaugh (moves up to 3)
6 Hendricks (drops to 7)
7 Collier (moves up to 6)

Now, I'd say it's more like this:
1 Kessler -- He's shaken off his sophomore slump to be one of our most consistent players, also desired by other teams.
2 Keyonte -- He needs to play in a more tightly defined role, but he'll be a starting-caliber, 20/4/4 guy in a year or two.
3 Brice -- Bankable shooter with a few counters, but doesn't offer much else yet. Fringe starter and versatile rotation player.
4 Williams -- He needs to work on his body. Full stop. He becomes a plus perimeter defender the minute has has some physical presence.
5 Flip -- Serviceable backup 4/5; still a lot of potential to work with, but doesn't do anything at a particularly high level yet (defense, rebounding, shooting, scoring)
6 Collier -- Still a backup point guard with limited shooting, but he's making strides. He's playing for the Jazz because he's the only point guard we have.
7 Hendricks -- coming off a tough injury at a critical time in his development makes him a 'wait-and-see'
I think you're definitely selling Collier short. He isnt playing because he's the only PG. He unseated Keyonte. He's putting up great assist numbers for a rookie. Having Brice or Filipowski over him, who both currently cant guard anyone at the NBA level, is bonkers. And I cant even fathom anyone having Cody over him. I would get it if Cody showed more than a flash every 20 games, but his flashes arent even worthy of being called flashes.
 
I think you're definitely selling Collier short. He isnt playing because he's the only PG. He unseated Keyonte. He's putting up great assist numbers for a rookie. Having Brice or Filipowski over him, who both currently cant guard anyone at the NBA level, is bonkers. And I cant even fathom anyone having Cody over him. I would get it if Cody showed more than a flash every 20 games, but his flashes arent even worthy of being called flashes.

I just don't think the league values these Elfrid Payton, Cam Payne-type guards who don't shoot it and can't play off the ball. Collier's ability to push tempo, get downhill and pass is high-level, but he needs to be a more complete player before teams will take him seriously, imo.
 
I just don't think the league values these Elfrid Payton, Cam Payne-type guards who don't shoot it and can't play off the ball. Collier's ability to push tempo, get downhill and pass is high-level, but he needs to be a more complete player before teams will take him seriously, imo.
yeah, but Elfrid Payton/Cam Payne didnt have elite speed/strength.

I see Collier developing his scoring and shooting as far more likely than any other question mark that surrounds our various young players.
 
Like ranking Cody over Collier is you just holding onto your completely made up idea of what Cody was from your draft takes when you convinced us he was going to be a taller SGA
 
yeah, but Elfrid Payton/Cam Payne didnt have elite speed/strength.

I see Collier developing his scoring and shooting as far more likely than any other question mark that surrounds our various young players.

Maybe. The requirement for 6'3" guards is just awfully high. I could see Collier moving above Flip, but I just think teams are more likely to invest in the 7-footer with potential and workable touch. Like, what if Flip adds a solid 15 lbs, gets his 3pt shooting up 5% and figures out how to operate on an NBA floor. We're dealing with rookies, and future value is still largely based on development potential.

If Collier can show some in-between game, that would help too.
 
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