Cal selections: Rabb, Bird taken in 2nd round.
night’s NBA draft, in many ways, counted as a crowning achievement for Ivan Rabb. He completed his journey from East Oakland and Bishop O’Dowd High School to the world’s best basketball league.
But the night also offered a stinging reminder about the impact of Rabb’s decision to stay at Cal for his sophomore season.
One year after he bypassed a chance to turn pro — he was widely projected as a lottery pick in the 2016 draft — Rabb became a second-round choice. Orlando selected him 35th overall, then traded his rights to Memphis.
Rabb’s teammate at Cal, swingman Jabari Bird from Salesian High in Richmond, also was drafted; he went to Boston with the 56th overall pick.
Rabb’s plunge into the second round was costly, because rookie contracts are guaranteed only for first-round picks. He would have signed for approximately $7.8 million over three years if he had been taken near the end of last year’s lottery.
Even though Rabb returned to Cal for admirable reasons — he enjoyed school and thought he needed another year to prepare for the NBA — that’s a lot of money.
Asked if Rabb had any regrets about the money he lost by falling into the second round, O’Dowd head coach Lou Richie said, “Not at all. Ivan’s just happy to be in a profession he’s dreamed about for years. It’s a kid’s dream come true. Nothing could spoil this for him.”
At least the trade to the Grizzlies means Rabb landed with a playoff regular. Memphis has reached the postseason in each of the past seven years, while Orlando has missed the playoffs for five consecutive years.
Also worth noting: Draymond Green was the 35th oversured all pick in 2012. This is not to suggest Rabb will achieve similar success as a pro, but it’s probably heartening to know at least one 35th pick struck it big.
Rabb watched the draft at a friend’s home in Fremont. Rabb declined comment, but Richie spoke in his stead during a brief phone interview.
“I’m just very happy for the young man,” Richie said. “I’m happy for his family and happy he achieved his goal. It’s a celebration here now.”
Even if last season went sideways for his Cal team, Rabb remained productive. He averaged 14.0 points and a Pac-12best 10.5 rebounds per game, despite relentless double-team attention.
Rabb’s shooting percentage fell from 61.5 percent as a freshman to 48.4 percent last season. His pre-draft measurements also caused some concern among NBA teams; though listed at 6-11 in college, he meaThursday 6-8¾ in bare feet and 6-10 with shoes.
“His value is as a rebounder,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said on the network’s draft telecast. “He’s very mobile and runs the floor very well.”
Rabb, one of the nation’s top high school recruits, spurned several high-powered programs to stay close to home. He led O’Dowd to the Open Division state championship in March 2015.
As for Bird, he improved his draft status during workouts for NBA teams, showing off his dynamic athleticism and threepoint accuracy.
Bird also was an acclaimed recruit. He endured injuries early in his Cal career, but led the Bears in scoring as a senior, averaging 14.3 points.