The 2024 NBA Draft class wasn't exactly the most exciting. The fact that Bronny James, the 55th pick, is still the most talked-about player almost a year after it happened says a lot. That makes it all the cooler that the Utah Jazz came away with two of the bigger steals in that class with Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski.
Besides Walker Kessler, the Jazz's two rookies have been their most exciting youngsters - sorry, Brice Sensabaugh... No, really - because they have shown that there are components of each other's game that is absolutely on an NBA level.
Collier has shown that he has the makings of one of the best passers the Jazz have ever had. Filipowski has shown that he's got the makings to be one of the NBA's best stretch bigs. Sure, their productive rookie seasons have made Cody Williams' rookie season look more disappointing than it already is, but by extension, their play has been a comfort in light of Williams' shortcomings.
This is about as good as the Jazz could have hoped from rookies who were selected in the late first-round and early second-round. However, it's only the first step for them. After this season, they've got to show that there's more to their games.
Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes singled them out when asking his one burning question for the Jazz. Hughes' burning question for the Jazz was, "How long is this going to take?"
While Hughes praised the Jazz for giving Collier and Filipowski the playing time they need to develop, he added that Utah "still has nothing approximating a foundation." While praising Collier and Filipowski, he also delved into their current flaws.
"Collier, for one, has overtaken second-year guard Keyonte George as the team’s starting point guard. Both he and George have displayed crippling inefficiency as shooters. Filipowski’s offense intrigues, but his defensive struggles (third percentile Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus) make it hard to imagine him contributing to a winner," Hughes wrote.
Hughes isn't wrong here. These issues will stand out like a sore thumb. Luckily, both of the Jazz's standout rookie have time to figure this out.
This shows the next step both have to take
Collier's playmaking is awesome, but as teams get more acquainted with his game, he will have to prove that he has a respectable jumper. Otherwise, opponents are going to lock down the Jazz's other four players while simultaneously daring him to beat them with his jumpshot.
Filipowski may have less pressure, but he has to show that he can't be taken advantage of on that end. Otherwise, opponents will continuously single him out on defense until the Jazz have no choice to put him on the bench.
Luckily both have time to figure out their flaws and how either they can get better or at least good enough that the Jazz can cover for them while still being a rising team. These are brutally honest assessments for bothh of them. However, there's no need to be overly concerned with this flaws yet.
Jazz fans remember Donovan Mitchell's electric rookie season quite fondly for good reason. What gets overshadowed is that he wasn't exactly a sharpshooter when he first came into the NBA, which showed itself in a pretty ugly way in the playoffs early. He worked at that, and boom, it's factored into him becoming a multi-time All-Star ever since.
Neither Collier nor Filipowski will likely reach Mitchell's level, but it's not crazy to believe they could iron out their flaws like Mitchell did. If they do, that helps form said foundation Hughes brought up above.
Collier doesn't have to turn into Stephen Curry, nor does Filipowski have to turn into Rudy Gobert. Their biggest flaws don't have to become their biggest strengths, as convenient as that would be. They only have to make their flaws, well, not flaws.