Using Memphis Grizzlies’ 2nd-round draft history to predict Ivan Rabb contract situation

For the past few years, some of the Memphis Grizzlies’ second-round picks haven’t played immediately. Will the same be for Ivan Rabb?

Ivan Rabb was the 35th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, after the Memphis Grizzlies traded a future second-round draft pick for his rights from the Orlando Magic.

As of today, he’s still unsigned.

Training camp starts in a two weeks, and the Grizzlies still have impending roster decisions. They should be signing JaMychal Green soon, but there’s no word on Rabb since he missed the Las Vegas Summer League.

The more things change, the more they stay the same in Memphis.

History

This is the third consecutive season the Grizzlies have traded for a second-round draft pick only to not sign that player after the draft. Previously, the Grizzlies traded to acquire Andrew Harrison in 2015 and Rade Zagorac.

It should be noted that both Andrew Harrison and Rade Zagorac signed with the Memphis Grizzlies after a one-year wait. Harrison played in the NBA D-League with the Iowa Energy (the Grizzlies’ affiliate team at the time). Zagorac played with Mega Leks in the Adriatic League.

Why is there a hold up?

The NBA draft is structured so that a team can draft a player and hold his rights forever even if they never offer him a contract. No matter what the player does to show his value, once he’s drafted, he can’t sign with a different team unless his rights are traded.

NBA teams treat second-round picks differently. Early second-round picks are usually given guaranteed contracts, especially if the draft is deep. Teams may sign their late second-round draft picks to non-guaranteed contracts. In doing so, the team allows them to attempt to make the team during training camp without locking the team into a long-term commitment for a payer who can’t perform in the NBA.

European players are often “stashed” overseas. The teams are encouraged to do this, because the players are already being paid professional wages with their teams — which was the case with Rade Zagorac. If they leave immediately, they face penalties for breaking the contract.

How it pertains to Ivan Rabb

So why hasn’t Ivan Rabb been offered a contract? His selection puts him as one of the highest draft picks still unsigned.

Anzejs Pasecniks was drafted 25th by the Philadelphia 76ers but is under contract with Gran Canaria and is essentially being stashed while the 76ers work out their crowded front court situation. Jonah Bolden was drafted 36th (right after Rabb) and has a contract with Radnicki Basket. Houston drafted Isaiah Hartenstein with the 43rd pick, but he’s under contract with Zalgiris in Europe.

After Rabb, the highest unsigned draft pick who played college basketball last season is Alec Peters who was drafted 54th.

Ivan Rabb isn’t like most of those players either. Rabb was considered one of the best players coming out of high school (ranked #8 by DraftExpress RSCI). If he entered the 2016 draft, he probably would’ve been a lottery pick. He averaged a double-double last season and over his college career. He was also a finalist for the Karl Malone Award as the best power forward in college last season.

There’s a lot to like about the 1st team All-Pac 12, 6’10” power forward with a 7’2″ wingspan. He’s mobile and moves around the floor easily. While playing in a stagnant, ball-control offense last season, his lack of domination hurt him. However many experts believe the faster-paced NBA game should free Rabb to be more effective.

Of course, there’s that problem with his injury. His injury history probably explains why Rabb fell from the first to the second round as much as any perceived weakness in his game. He missed the NIT tournament with an unspecified foot injury. Rabb injured his ankle June 6th in a draft workout with the Pistons that limited his ability to be scouted prior to the draft. The ankle still bothered him to the point that he couldn’t participate in Summer League action in early to mid-July.

Since then, there has been silence.

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Solutions?

The Memphis Grizzlies could offer Rabb their final two-way contract before the season begins.

It’s possible the Grizzlies simply want to wait until they know how expensive JaMychal Green will be before committing to Ivan Rabb.

The question is why?

It’s unlikely that Rabb will command more than the league minimum contract, especially with his injury history and inexperience.

It’s also possible the Grizzlies expect Rabb to sign overseas or accept the two-way contract so that he doesn’t count against the Grizzlies’ roster limitation. There’s 15 players under contract — not including JaMychal Green. They also still need to make roster decisions on guys like Mario Chalmers, a training camp invite.

Outside of a trade, none of these options are that attractive. Signing Rabb would only aggravate the unhappy situation the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in. Trades are notoriously difficult also with the Grizzlies’ over the salary cap.

Next: Can the Grizz go ahead and re-sign JaMychal Green?

Can the Grizz break the trend and sign Rabb for the main roster?

Stay tuned.