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Atlanta Hawks Prospect Watch: Isaia Cordinier in November

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Our monthly prospect watches continue here at SDS with another check up on the Hawk’s prospect, Isaia Cordinier. So, let’s see how the month of November has gone for him.

Isaia Cordinier was a second-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2017 NBA Draft. He came into the league with a reputation as a good athlete and slasher, with a strong work ethic and decent range. As happens with many players out of Europe, though, Cordinier went back across the Atlantic to play in France this season, with his opportunities with the Hawks likely to be limited.

With the Antibes Sharks, Cordinier started strong in October. The French top league, the LNB Pro A, was a step up for him, especially after a summer disrupted by injury, but he did not seem overwhelmed. Last time we checked in, the French swingman had averages of five points, one rebound, 1.25 assists, and 1.25 steals. His efficiency was startling, shooting .438 from the field and .571 from the arc. That was really early in the season, though, and he has still only just turned 20.

The promise is there but how has Cordinier done since?

Previous 2016/17 Per Game Averages: 5 points, 1 rebound, 1.25 assists, 1.25 steals.

Per Game Averages as of 12/03: 4.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals.

Percentages as of 12/03: .343 FG%, .375 3P%, .500 FT%.

At first glance, these numbers really are not anything to get excited by. That field-goal percentage is bad. Period. The upside, though, is his three-point shooting. Cordinier’s .375 mark from the triple is pretty good and his six made three-pointers matches make up half of his 12 field goals. Cordinier is 6-16 from the arc, but 6-19 from two-point range.

Whether that is a promising touch from the three or a disappointing lack of inside scoring is up to you. Given the way the NBA is moving today, scoring is imperative and if this trend keeps going then Cordinier’s future in the NBA might be thrown into doubt. Name all of the shooting guards in the league who do not score well. Go on, I’ll wait…. Tony Allen, Andre Roberson?

On the other hand, though, those numbers should also tell you that the Frenchman’s usage in his team is not especially large. His 35 attempts through eight games is low, an average of 4.38 per game. And to get 4.5 points per game on 4.38 shots does not seem so bad. Suddenly, the panic fades, huh?

The rest of his game shows some promise too, especially in the assists column. His 1.4 assists per game are superior to the starter in his two-guard position. That puts him at 85th in the entire league, having played up to four games less than his rivals. Shooting guards do not always have to pass well, but it is a symptom of Mike Budenholzer’s offense that the ball zips around and there are assists and passes aplenty. The fact that Cordinier can do so well is a good thing for his future.

It has still only been eight games for the Hawks’ man in France this season some we still do not have too much to go on. Cordinier’s 19.9 minutes per game are only the seventh highest on his team and that is a team that is losing so do not expect those numbers to soar.

Development is rarely a straight climb and never a breeze. There is plenty of work ahead but, at just 20 years old, Isaia Cordinier remains an intriguing prospect. That’s not just my opinion either. Zach Harper lists him as an interesting prospect ready for an impact in the future. So, yeah.

His scoring is solid but inconsistent, and his passing is strong. He has even limited those foul numbers while retaining his workhorse energy, and that energy is something that is so desired by coaches and fans alike. Basically, Cordinier is the very definition of raw at this point.

As I said, those numbers are not great, but the French guard still seems like he has the potential to become a strong slasher in the NBA. And, despite declining numbers, the Atlanta Hawks should still be keeping an eye on him for the future.

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