NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Ausar Thompson drops, who will take his spot?

The Dallas Mavericks opened up the weekend with a 108-94 crushing defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies.

From tip-off, it seemed like the Mavericks were missing some extra juice, which was true. Superstar Luka Doncic was announced out before the game for personal reasons. It would later be announced that Doncic would become a father of a baby girl later that day.

Additionally, Tim Hardaway Jr. would be announced out for the game as well with lower back spasms. Hardaway Jr. has become a huge contributor off the bench for the Mavericks all season long, and it was clear to see why the Mavericks need him healthy moving forward.

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Ausar Thompson drops, who will take his spot?

From the first quarter, it was easy to see that the Mavericks just didn't have the manpower to keep up with the Grizzlies. Kyrie Irving did his best, but after a concerning foot injury that occurred at the end of the first quarter, it was clear the Mavericks didn't have what it took to beat the Grizzlies shorthanded.

As shorthanded as the Mavericks were, some guys stepped up into bigger roles. Off the bench, Seth Curry had a nice contribution of 12 points on efficient shooting. He was one of the few bright spots that got it going from behind the arc. Even Grant Williams finally got it going. He would finish the game with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Josh Green finished with 10 points and five assists. Despite Green's strong offensive showing, he had an even better game on the defensive end. He had a total of three steals in this game and was constantly pestering Grizzlies guards at the top of the key.

Rookie Dereck Lively II had a nice defensive showing against the Grizzles but has failed to become an offensive threat through the last few weeks of play. This lethargic play over the last week may cost him in the Rookie Power Rankings list. Let's take a look at other rookies around the league and where they stand in this week's rankings.

10. Scoot Henderson

Last week's rank: N/A

Scoot is finally back in the top 10 after a multiple-week absence. He's been badling the injury bug to start the season but is working his way into looking like the number three pick, slowly but surely.

9. Bilal Coulibaly

Last week's rank: 7

Coulibaly slips this week largely due to the Wizards' terrible play over the last week. Despite the Wizards' 3-16 start to the season, Coulibaly has been a shining star in their system.

8. Keyonte George

Last week's rank: 10

George will jump two spots in this week's ranking. He has found a strong role over the last week and has filled a starting role recently with the 6-13 Jazz.

7. Dereck Lively II

Last week's rank: 5

Lively II drops two spots in this week's ranking. Despite a weak showing over the last week, Lively II is one of the few rookies contributing to a winning team every night. Could this just be a rookie slump?

6. Brandon Miller

Last week's rank: 6

Miller is one of the few rookies that has gradually risen over the last week. If it wasn't for the breakout of Jaime Jaquez Jr., he would be in the top five. However, Miller is contributing nicely to the Hornets, and they are finally winning a handful of games because of it.

5. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Last week's rank: 8

Jaquez Jr. got off to a slow start to begin his NBA career. He was in and out of the Miami Heat rotation and saw little to no playing time through the first few games. However, things have quickly changed, and Jaquez Jr. has emerged as one of the Heats' best forwards.

In just above 26 minutes of action per night, Jaquez Jr. has exploded onto the scene for many NBA fans. He's averaging 12 points and four rebounds per contest, but it's not the stat sheet that will blow fans' minds.

Jaquez Jr. is one of the few rookies with 50-40-80 splits in the shooting department. From behind the arc, Jaquez Jr. has got it rolling. He doesn't take a crazy amount of shots from behind the arc, but he has become a reliable shooter from deep.

Where Jaquez Jr. gets the bulk of his points is off of backdoor cuts to the rim. The former UCLA standout shined in college for his elite basketball IQ and ability to do the little things right when on the court. It didn't take coach Erik Spoelstra long to figure out a method for Jaquez Jr. to be elite on the offensive end.

The Heat and the Mavericks won't be able to play each other until early March, but between then, expect Jaquez Jr. to remain on this list with his recent play.

4. Ausar Thompson

Last week's rank: 3

Due to Ausar Thompson's inefficient shooting, he will drop one spot.

The high school standout has absolutely dominated on the defensive end. He has not only looked like this rookie class's best defensive player but one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Thompson uses his insane wingspan to constantly pester offensive players and poke the ball free on drives.

He has also used his length and athleticism to constantly turn down shots on bigger players. Standing at just 6-foot-6, Thompson has found a way to block one and a half shots per game and also snag a steal per game in the process.

Thompson has also found an elite ability to rebound. He isn't averaging a double-double anymore, but he has still found a way to grab nine rebounds per contest.

Thompson's struggles have come on the offensive end. He is still averaging 12 points per game, which largely comes from inside the paint, but he must find an outside shot to be elite in the NBA. Especially in today's shooting era of basketball, Thompson needs to at least become respectable from behind the arc.

If Thompson can develop a shot in the Pistons system, then he could rise on this list as he has done in the past.

The Mavericks won't see the Pistons until early March. But between then, Thompson should develop a respectable jumper.

3. Jordan Hawkins

Last week's rank: 4

Jordan Hawkins has once again lit up the scoreboard for another week. The rookie standout has quickly become one of the premier elite shooters around the league and very soon could become one of the best.

With CJ McCollum back in the lineup for the New Orleans Pelicans, many fans speculated if Hawkins's role would diminish. Over the last week, Hawkins hasn't flashed anything new, but its become clear that he is one of the Pelicans' best rotational players on their team.

On the court, Hawkins has showcased his rebounding ability over the last few weeks. He's only averaging four rebounds a game, but he has well exceeded that number over the last five games he has played in. Hawkins needed to make an impact somewhere else on the floor, and he has found that to be rebounding.

The lanky guard has also found a nice pairing alongside Zion Williamson. The two have found an effortless pick-and-pop connection that has defenders scratching their heads time after time. Hawkins may need to add more to his defensive bag if he wants to rise on this list, but for now, he will sit at four.

2. Victor Wembanyama

Last week's rank: 2

After losing his number-one spot last week, Wembanyama has been on a tear. It seems like he took it personally and is now dominating every matchup defensively and on offense.

He has bumped up his block numbers to an astounding two and a half per game. If Wembanyama continues on this track, he could potentially lead the NBA in blocked shots by the end of the year. Currently, he leads all rookies in blocked shots by a mile.

Wembanyama has not only been blocking shots at an alarming rate, but he has also been expanding on his offensive game. The first few weeks of the season, Wembanyama was stuck shooting shots from behind the three-point line for the bulk of his offense, but he has since reversed that trend.

The San Antonio Spurs have finally found a good formula for getting their rookie open looks. Wembanyama has quickly learned the art of the pick and roll, and at 7'4, it's hard for any defender to stop that.

However, despite the bright spot of Wembanyama, the Spurs' season has quickly gone downhill at an alarming rate. At one point in time, the Spurs were sitting at 3-2 to begin their season. Since this start, they have lost 14 straight and the grip of their season.

Entering the season, the Spurs never had high expectations, but this could be worse than expected.

The Mavericks and Spurs will play once again just two days before Christmas. It's unclear if the Spurs can turn things around between then, but we can expect Wembanyama to only get better.

1. Chet Holmgren

Last week's rank: 1

Chet Holmgren has continued to light up the basketball court in almost every fashion. The 7'1 standout has quickly become a key piece for the Thunder going forward and has flashed some insane potential on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, Holmgren has found it easy to block shots with his incredible length. He has also found a good ability to sniff out plays and get steals or critical stops. This is happening just 19 games into his career.

In a game last week against the Chicago Bulls, Holmgren was able to deny four shots at the rim.

Holmgren not only shines inside the paint, but he has also become a critical switch defender for the Thunder. He can use his elite athleticism to keep up with some of the best guards in the NBA. He usually can't stay foot-to-foot with the best, but his length gives him a chance every play.

Offensively, Holmgren has become the benefactor of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander masterclasses. Holmgren's ability to space the floor and create off closeouts has made him an elite offensive player. He's not always the most efficient at the rim, but given an offseason and time to grow, he will become stronger at the rim.

Chet can also hit shots from behind the arc at an elite rate. He shoots just under 40 percent from behind the arc at a high volume of shots.

Holmgren has earned the number one spot on this week's Rookie Power Rankings, but things are heating up as the season goes along. For more updates on Dallas Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in.