Ivan Rabb’s Run with Memphis Grizzlies on Its Last Leg?

Ivan Rabb is following the same unfortunate trend of many other former development projects belonging to the Memphis Grizzlies. What does his future behold?

The 14-9 Memphis Grizzlies secured a home victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday evening, and the storyline really zooms in on the Grizzlies’ frontcourt.

The majority of the postgame hubbub involved newcomer Joakim Noah. Being a former NBA All-Star that just signed a contract with Memphis this week, it was a given that his presence would generate a lot of buzz. However, he has leapfrogged the Grizzlies’ development project at the center position — sophomore Ivan Rabb.

Rabb did not enter the league with a bang quite like his teammate Dillon Brooks did in their rookie season of 2017-18. Regardless, he did a formidable job as a raw talent in a lost 22-60 season outcome.

While appearing in 36 games (including five starts) for Ivan Rabb last season, he also saw action in 18 contests with the Memphis Hustle via G-League assignment. It appeared as if he was on track to play a significant role for the Grizzlies in his sophomore season.

Rabb outlasted his former teammate Deyonta Davis. Memphis chose to sever ties with Davis, and it was clear to the Front Office as well as the fan base that Ivan presents a much higher ceiling in the long run, but had also demonstrated greater impact in the now.

All signs were pointing toward a stellar 2018-19 season for Ivan Rabb. He had earned his keep with the Memphis Grizzlies — at least more so than Deyonta Davis. Rabb’s role was to provide backup assistance to three-time All-Star Marc Gasol, which could potentially be a 15-20 minute gig.

23 games into the current regular season, Ivan has checked into just nine of those meetings. The most playing time he has received in a single game this season came versus the Washington Wizards in a double figure Memphis Grizzlies victory. Collectively, he is averaging just 6.3 minutes per game.

The past week has landed the biggest blow to Rabb’s professional hoops career. Not only has Memphis added Joakim Noah to the roster as insurance at the center position, but Ivan immediately slid below Noah in the rotation.

Ivan Rabb was assigned to the G-League on Tuesday, which is the first time the action has occurred for Rabb. He has sat the bench for 13 entire games. Of course some experience can be gathered by just being with the NBA team, discussing game plans in the locker room, and more. However, this has gotten to the point of being a waste of time for Rabb.

In most cases this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have elected for small-ball rather than implement Rabb into the lineup while Gasol is in foul trouble or needing a breather. It appears that they do not trust him, and that he is still too raw to throw into the fire while the Grizz are attempting to maintain a third or fourth quarter lead.

Ivan should have been placed into the G-League this season long before Tuesday. It comes down to him needing playing experience. Minutes. Exposure. If there has been no real way for him to check into a regular season game for the Grizzlies, then why not conduct the routine assign/reassign journey to and from the Hustle?

During Wednesday’s victory, Joakim Noah received 13 minutes of action from Grizzlies Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Clearly Noah is trusted, though he obviously brings a lot of veteran experience to the table. Nonetheless, Joakim has not played in a regulation NBA game for more than 11 months. Surely Ivan Rabb is more conditioned than Noah, even if Joakim has plenty of contributions left in the tank.

Sliding further down Memphis’ totem pole, this situation is all too familiar to Grizz Nation. They have seen similar occurrences with Russ Smith, Jarnell Stokes, Wade Baldwin IV, and of course the aforementioned Deyonta Davis. The list goes on.

In an offseason where the Memphis Grizzlies’ General Manager — Chris Wallace — got lucky with excellent NBA Draft selections, brought in key veteran pieces, and pulled off a miraculous trade, Ivan Rabb may be the one outlier that Wallace plans to decide upon prior to his exit from the Front Office chair.

How much time will they give Ivan Rabb? Perhaps the better question is how much of an opportunity will they continue to give him?

Wade Baldwin lasted just one full season and he was a first round Draft pick of the Memphis Grizzlies. Deyonta Davis lasted two full seasons. Memphis’ patience is becoming thinner with prospects as the current decade unfolds. It is very real that this could be the last season Ivan Rabb spends with the Grizzlies if a couple key items take place.

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First off, the Joakim Noah project must be successful. Even though he is playing on a veteran’s minimum contract, the possibility exists that the Memphis Grizzlies would re-sign him to a new deal following the conclusion of this season.

Secondly, a lot of major topics surrounding the Grizzlies will be determined once Marc Gasol makes his own decision — opting in or out of the final year of his current deal.

If Gasol would happen to leave, it would only help Ivan Rabb’s chances if the Front Office wants to keep him around for continuity, in addition to keeping the developmental project alive. Assuming Marc bolts, it makes since to continuing the development of Rabb.

All in all, regardless of what happens once the 2018-19 NBA season comes to conclusion, Ivan Rabb is a cheap contract that still boasts plenty of potential. He is much more engaged than Deyonta Davis was while with Memphis. He has great defensive potential and he is slowly showing signs of an offensive game, too.

Being on the books for under $2 million in the 2019-20 NBA season, it makes a lot of sense for the Memphis Grizzlies to develop him through 2020. Sometimes “sense” does not belong in the same sentence as the Grizzlies franchise, as they quickly gave up on Baldwin and Davis with years remaining on their respective contracts, too.

From the looks of things, it appears the Grizzlies have righted most of their recent wrongs. The 2018 offseason has been a huge success thus far. Retaining Ivan Rabb is still a low-risk, high-reward decision, but for now, Memphis is stunting his growth even if Joakim Noah is boosting the club to victory.