Player Profile:
“Rabb is tough to gauge. He hasn’t made the improvements that many were expecting upon his return for a sophomore campaign and his game is somewhat difficult to understand by way of NBA projections. But, Rabb is — without question — a very good basketball player, with a high I.Q. around the rim and the basic tools needed to carve out a very reliable niche down the road.
The two biggest concerns with Rabb are tied to his strength and aggressiveness. For a 6-11 forward, he still hasn’t filled out physically — a problem that can be compounded by his lack of aggression in attacking mismatches or getting into position.
Where Rabb does excel, though, is the instinctual nature of his game. He finds his way to rebounds in uncanny-but-effective ways and utilizes his length and perception in the passing lanes to make steals that not a lot of big men are capable of making. He’s great at forcing guards into tough spots when driving the lane and can utilize that same length to block shots at a high clip.” — 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0.
Outside Opinion:
“Rabb’s decision to return to school may not wind up affecting his draft range much. He’s having a terrific season, averaging 14 and 10 and has reinforced his strengths as a rebounder and shown a solid face-up jumper. If he can stretch that out to the three-point line, it could do wonders long-term. He’ll be a more polished player when he comes out and could become a productive starting big for someone. There’s still plenty to like.” — Jeremy Woo in SI.com’s 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0.
Team Fit:
With a lot of lesser-known names beginning to rise up draft boards and Ivan Rabb’s stock stagnating this season, we could see him drop a bit further than expected come draft night. With that said, though, he remains a highly talented get this late in the first round — and someone the Hawks could benefit from tremendously.
As a lanky 6-11 power forward, Rabb’s basketball I.Q. is something that bodes well in Atlanta’s player development system. He’s an instinctual defender and a solid scorer around the painted area, with an improved mid-range game to boot. The Hawks are not only highly adept at developing talent, but have a severe lack of long term frontcourt depth behind Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap, something Rabb helps fix.
While his ceiling isn’t overly high, Rabb’s feel for the game gives him a solid floor to bank on in the right environment. He’s a strong attainment at this stage in the draft, almost regardless of team.