Memphis Grizzlies Acquire Ivan Rabb on 2017 Draft Night
On June 22nd, 2017, the Orlando Magic traded the draft rights of Ivan Rabb to the Memphis Grizzlies for a 2019 second round draft pick (Talen Horton-Tucker).
The NBA Draft is an inexact science for teams, but it can also be a difficult code to crack for entering players. Ivan Rabb was projected to be a lottery pick in the 2016 draft after his freshman year at the University of California.
A former McDonald’s All-American, Rabb decided to return to Cal for his sophomore year. Though he put up solid numbers (14.0 PPG and 10.5 RPG), California’s failure to make the NCAA Tournament and Rabb’s lack of dramatic improvements damaged his draft stock.
Rabb fell out of the first round of the 2017 draft. Though there were other teams interested like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Memphis Grizzlies snagged the big man after acquiring the 35th pick from the Orlando Magic for a future second round pick in 2019.
At 6-foot-10 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, the athletic Rabb was an intriguing prospect thanks to solid footwork. At 20 years old, he still had room to grow. Rabb was a tweener due to his lack of an outside jumper or strength to bang around with opposing centers in the paint.
Rabb missed all of 2017 Summer League thanks to an ankle injury suffered in a pre-draft workout. The Grizzlies signed Rabb to a three-year, contract worth $3.9 million with the last year not guaranteed.
A perennial playoff team, the Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff hopes were damaged by injuries. Star guard Mike Conley missed 70 games due to a sore left heel and achilles tendon that eventually required surgery. Without their master orchestrator and shot creator, the Grizzlies faltered. They won five of their first six games and were 7-6 through 13 games before Conley’s injury.
The team was 7-12 when coach David Fizdale was fired and replaced by J.B. Bickerstaff. Memphis went 15-54 over the final 69 games to finish 22-60, the franchise’s worst record since the 2007-08 season.
Rabb spent some time in the G-League with Memphis’ affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. He played in 18 games with the Hustle during his rookie season, compiling 15.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG and 1.7 BPG. Rabb actually scored the first points in the G-League team’s history. Rabb played in 36 games (five starts) with the Grizzlies and recorded 5.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 0.9 APG in 14.3 MPG.
Memphis had the fourth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and selected forward Jaren Jackson Jr. from Michigan State. Rabb played for Memphis in Summer League games in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He appeared in five games and produced 10.0 PPG on 58% from the field, 5.6 RPG and 0.6 BPG.
Memphis began the 2018-19 season 12-5, but their success was short-lived. The Grizzlies dropped 25 of their next 32 games to fall to 19-30. Memphis moved on from their core, trading center Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors.
The team also sold off spare parts JaMychal Green and Garrett Temple to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies began prioritizing playing their young core and finished the year with a 33-49 mark.
Rabb once again spent some time with the Hustle in his second season. He appeared in eight contests, managing 20.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG. Rabb flashed an outside shot, as he made 10-27 threes (37%). He played in 49 games for the Grizzlies, putting up 5.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 1.1 APG in 14.7 MPG.
The Grizzlies held the second pick in the draft and selected point guard Ja Morant. The team also moved on from Conley, dealing the long-time starter at point guard to the Utah Jazz.
Rabb played in Memphis’ Summer League entries in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. In six exhibition games, Rabb averaged 5.3 PPG on 29% from the field, 6.3 RPG and 1.5 BPG. Rabb’s contract was set to be fully-guaranteed at $1.6 million for the 2019-20 season during Summer League, but the Grizzlies and Rabb agreed to push back the guarantee date.
Rabb was waived by the Grizzlies before it could become fully-guaranteed in training camp. The Grizzlies added Jackson and rookie Brandon Clarke who played the same position, making the need for Rabb redundant.
He ended up signing a two-way contract with the New York Knicks. Rabb appeared in 85 games (18 starts) with the Grizzlies and averaged 5.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 1.0 APG over two seasons. He shot 56% from the field and 74% from the free-throw line in that time.
Two years later, the Magic used the pick from Memphis and drafted Talen Horton-Tucker from Iowa State with the 46th overall pick. Soon after, they dealt Tucker to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations and a 2020 second round pick.
Ivan Rabb on how his draft projections had fallen from first round pick from the previous year to second rounder in 2017 (via Memphis Daily News):
“I’m not too worried about last year. I’m just ready to get to work. I plan on being around in the league for a long time. It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you finish.”
On making the decision to go back to college for his sophomore year (Memphis Commercial Appeal):
“I’m blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity. I don’t second-guess my decision to go back to school. I feel like I came to a place that is right for me.”
Why he chose to return to California for his sophomore year:
“For me, it was just about becoming a better professional. I didn’t want to come into the league without knowing what to expect and how I’m supposed to carry myself and how I’m supposed to prepare myself for the games and everything else that comes with the league.”
How he feels he was hurt by returning:
“I feel like I was penalized. I feel like I was overanalyzed a little bit, instead of being judged on my body of work.”
How the Grizzlies were a good spot to land:
“The Grizzlies gave me an opportunity, and I plan to come in here and make the most of it. Everybody restarts anyway. Obviously, I didn’t get selected into the first round, but I did come to a great organization that has been to the playoffs year after year with great coaches and a great front office.”
Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace on drafting and acquiring Ivan Rabb (via Grizzlies.com):
“Ivan Rabb has always been among the elite players in his age group nationally. He had two very productive years at the University of California. Excellent rebounder, runs the floor, length is en vogue in basketball now. He’s a long player. Very high character, has a lot of supporters in the Bay Area that have known him for a long time, that are big fans of his. And we felt he was just too good to pass up.”
On thoughts of Rabb as a project:
“Everybody has development to do at this level, even the lottery picks. He will have to get stronger, but he’s got some serious gifts on the offensive end and as a rebounder that he will bring into the league immediately.”
Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale on Rabb and other second round pick Dillon Brooks falling to the Grizzlies in the draft (via Memphis Daily News):
“I don’t know how they got to us, honestly, with what they’ve done this year. If you look at the numbers and the accomplishments, it goes to show you that NBA teams make mistakes.”
Related Tweets:
A huge thank you to everyone for all of the support! I'm excited to join the @memgrizz organization, let's get this thing started!
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