Memphis Grizzlies Roundtable: Grading the Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks picks

The main moves have been made, with the exception of JaMychal Green. What are some thoughts on the Memphis Grizzlies drafting Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks?

Going into draft night, the Memphis Grizzlies had zero picks. It definitely hurt not having a single selection in a deep draft, until some Woj bombs hit. The Memphis Grizzlies made two trades, one for the 35th pick and the other for the 45th. With their selections, they drafted power forward Ivan Rabb (35th) and PAC-12 Player of the Year Dillon Brooks (45th).

Getting into the draft was obviously a smart move, but two selections are quite risky – given the Grizzlies’ roster situation. People thought that at least one of them would receive a two-way deal, but the Grizzlies had other plans. At the post-draft press conference, Chris Wallace reiterated that these two players will be on the main 15-man roster, leaving the Grizzlies in a flux to decide who stays and who goes.

No one knows what Rabb is like on the court, but many in Memphis were impressed with Dillon Brooks during the Summer League. What do the writers at Beale Street Bears think?

As we grade out some of the offseason moves, Parker Fleming (@PAKA_FLOCKA), Jake Finnen (@HalfCourtJester), Nathan Chester (@BigNateChester) and Ryan Patterson (@_ryanjp) give their thoughts on the drafting of Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks.

Ivan Rabb

Grade: C

The Ivan Rabb drafting is fine. He’s a prospect with a high potential, and he fills a need. Jarell Martin hasn’t flashed any signs of becoming the power forward of the future, so drafting Rabb was a decent move. If he entered the draft in 2016, he would’ve been a lottery pick. Instead, he opted to return to school and suffered the consequences. This draft pick deserves a “C” for the fact that we didn’t see his game in the Summer League. — Parker Fleming

Chris Wallace has employed a bit of a “moneyball” philosophy when it comes to drafting players. From Josh Shelby to now Ivan Rabb, Wallace likes drafting players who may have untapped potential. Drafting guys like that in the second round is a good idea. However, Rabb’s injury history, along with the growing possibility that he may not sign at all, makes him a very iffy pick for the Grizzlies. — Nathan Chester

Grade: C-

It seems like Wallace was looking for a potential JaMychal replacement, and it’s tough to find a potential starting PF in the late second round of the draft. Rabb’s injury history isn’t the best, but I think he could make solid contributions after a couple of months in Southaven. — Ryan Patterson

Grade: D

He’s already injured, and chances are he starts the season in the G-League. So as far as helping the team this season, he doesn’t.

He’ll be a project for the future, but the Grizzlies need help now, so hopefully he can find a way to produce sooner rather than later. If JaMychal Green is signed, the Grizzlies frontcourt is going to lack depth, giving Rabb a chance to possibly sneak into the rotation – assuming he stays healthy. If Green isn’t re-signed, Rabb is going to have to see minutes, because the Grizzlies have very few big men to spare. — Jake Finnen

ICYMI: Youngster show promise in the Summer League

Dillon Brooks

Grade: A+

Pedigree, talent, heart: Dillon Brooks has it all.

If you’re going to have the 45th pick in the draft, why not use it on a conference player of the year who led his team to the Final 4 the year before? Brooks looked NBA-ready in Summer League, and he may even be ready to contribute on the wing during his rookie season. — Chester

Grade: A

Drafting a player like Dillon Brooks was a big win for the Grizzlies. The PAC-12 Player of the Year fell due to his age and his lack of athleticism, but the dude is a baller.

More from Beale Street Bears

Guys like Draymond Green, Chandler Parsons, Malcolm Brogdon and Jae Crowder received conference “Player of the Year” awards and fell in the draft because of their “low ceiling.” Guess what? They thrived in the NBA.

In the Summer League, Brooks showed that he can do just about everything on the court: pass, shoot, score, defend and – more importantly – play with the “grit and grind” that bleeds in Memphis.

Memphians will like Dillon Brooks. — Fleming

Grade: A-

Dillon is a stud. He thrived in Summer League, and his potential to be a go-to guy on the roster is at an all-time high. Still surprised he fell to the 45th pick on draft night, but I have a feeling Wallace knew was he was doing with this pickup. — Patterson

Grade: B-

Aside from the fact that Grizzlies needed shooters three years ago, Dillon Brooks looks like he can fill that role soon.

He got plenty of late-game touches in Summer League, which can only mean he will find some spot in the regular season rotation. The Grizzlies are going to need scoring, and Brooks is clearly a true scorer. He still needs time to adjust, but there’s no better way to accelerate development than throwing him into game and letting him learn by doing.

I don’t like comparing players, but giving Brooks heavy minutes and opportunities will only help him get better – much like Devin Booker’s rookie year in Phoenix. The front office needs to invest in their future, and not by sticking them in the G-League for two seasons. If Memphis thinks they have found a diamond, they need to apply pressure to make sure. — Finnen

Next: Summer League Review: Brooks

Closing Remarks

The Memphis Grizzlies are clearly looking towards the future without “rebuilding” or “tanking.” Rabb and Brooks could be contributors on this team soon, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Comment your thoughts below. What do you think of these picks?

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