The New York Knicks finally fill their second two-way roster spot with Ivan Rabb, who was previously with the Memphis Grizzlies organization.
On Wednesday, the New York Knicks announced the signing of Ivan Rabb to a two-way contract. Rabb was recently cut by the Memphis Grizzlies, where he once played for head coach David Fizdale.
“Good kid, hard worker,” Fizdale said via Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Really skilled big. Rebounds the ball well. A high-IQ player. It will be good to get back with him and develop him.”
Rabb is a 22-year-old former second-round pick of the Orlando Magic. The power forward/center hybrid has career per-game averages of 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 85 career games.
In all likelihood, he’ll spend most of his time in the G League with the Westchester Knicks. However, we’ve seen the Knicks sign Allonzo Trier to an NBA contract after he outperformed his two-way deal. It will be tough for Rabb to break into a crowded frontcourt in Madison Square Garden, but crazier things have happened.
The Knicks were originally supposed to use the final two-way spot on Kris Wilkes from UCLA, but the forward is dealing with an undisclosed illness at this time.
“He got ill,” Fizdale said of Wilkes. “He came down with a serious illness. I don’t know exactly what it was. It was pretty severe. So right now we’re not going down that road.”
Kadeem Allen, who is currently dealing with a sore right knee, is the other two-way player on the roster. The Knicks open their season on Wednesday against the Spurs in San Antonio (8:30 p.m. ET).
