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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Ivan Rabb?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 28, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) dunks the basketball against the USC Trojans in the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) dunks the basketball against the USC Trojans in the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Bad

The lack of progression with Rabb is concerning. He did not seem to take a huge leap. And his game does look a bit clunky at times.

Rabb is not a strong low post scorer. A lot of his scoring came off offensive rebounds — 3.0 offensive boards per game — or off passes and pick and rolls from other players. No one is going to ask Rabb to work on the low block.

While his 3-point shooting at the college level last year, in particular, were encouraging, there are also indications that will not extend to the NBA.

He was a 66.3 percent free throw shooter last year. Free throw shooting is a greater indicator of shooting success translating to the longer NBA line. Rabb’s free throw shooting suggests he will not make this adjustment.

The question with Rabb is one of just that — translation. Which one of his skills will translate to the NBA?

The rebounding is the greatest skill he has to bring to the NBA. Against some of his peers, Rabb showed the ability to translate. He grabbed 20 rebounds in a game against T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu of the UCLA Bruins in early January. Both Leaf and Anigbogu are likely first round picks too.

Rabb gobbled up rebounds throughout the conference season and his entire sophomore year. That is his big NBA skill at the moment.

But as noted, his rebounding is not otherworldly. His athleticism and length advantages he enjoyed in college will dissipate in the NBA.

At the NBA Combine, he measured out with a 7-foot-1.5 wingspan. That was in the middle of the pack among centers at the combine.

That lack of length is going to hurt him at the NBA level where big men usually are required to change shots at the rim.

In college, Rabb blocked just 1.0 shot per game. That does not speak to how many shots he changed throughout the course of his career, but it is not a good sign of the impact he can make on the defensive end.

Rabb is still a bundle of potential. But the problem with bundles of potential is eventually they become kinetic energy. And if that energy does not move forward, that potential is wasted.

Rabb did not progress himself much in a sophomore year that was meant to show how much he had grown. Thus he has slipped on draft boards.