Honorable Mention: Ivan Rabb
Ivan Rabb of the Memphis Grizzlies has a club option worth $1.6 million in the 2019-20 season per Spotrac, which the Grizzlies are very likely to pick up. Rabb has played a total of 82 games for the Grizz in two seasons, and he has averaged 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14 minutes a game.
Clearly a bench role player at this point in his career, Rabb has good size (6-foot-10, 220 pounds) and length (7-foot-2 wingspan, 9-foot-1 standing reach) and he has split his duties nearly 50/50 at the power forward and center positions.
Rabb is a solid play finisher around the rim, and he has also flashed some defensive upside at times. His raw defensive rating via Basketball Reference of 109 would’ve given him a share of the lead in that category had he been a member of the Atlanta Hawks – tied with Dewayne Dedmon.
Beyond that, Rabb fits the Atlanta Hawks’ mold of youth and upside as he is still only 22 years old and won’t turn 23 until February of 2020.
Lastly, Rabb has shown at least a passing fancy in stepping out to the three-point line this season, and he has attempted 13 three-pointers in his second year in the league (after trying zero in his rookie season). If there’s one thing the Atlanta Hawks organization can reliably do, it’s turn big men into reliable three-point shooters: Just look at the success stories of Dewayne Dedmon and Alex Len in consecutive seasons.
Though Rabb will likely remain a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, if they cut him loose, the Hawks should look to sign him.