The Memphis Grizzlies have gotten production from Rayan Rupert. They should keep him on the team after this offseason.
Recency bias can cloud any NBA fan's judgment. It can be hard to separate the moment from the bigger picture. When a young player has an uncharacteristically strong game, it's easy to designate them as a building block.
NBA front offices can't afford to make the same mistake. Yet, when a player flashes enough potential in a single game, they ought to at least pay attention.
Should the Memphis Grizzlies have a close eye on Rayan Rupert?
Grizzlies' Rayan Rupert Puts Up Monster Stat Line
Rupert hung 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists on the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday evening.
That's absurd production. A 30-point triple-double doesn't just happen. It is undeniably indicative of star potential. Rupert was efficient, too. He was 9-of-19 from the field, 2-of-6 from deep, and an impressive 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Yes, there are caveats. The Grizzlies are tanking, and so are the Bucks. This wasn't a completely valid test.
It's still hard to deny an efficient 33 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. We can extrapolate. If Rupert can do this in a relatively uncompetitive NBA game, he should be able to produce in any environment.
The Grizzlies should make him a priority this summer.
The Grizzlies Should Sign Rupert This Summer
As it stands, Rupert is on a two-way contract. It seems likely that he'll finish out the rest of the season with the regular roster.
This summer, Rupert will be a restricted free agent. That means other teams can make a run at him, and Memphis will have the opportunity to match any contract offer he receives.
They'll likely want to match whatever offer he gets.
Sure, the Grizzlies should have a breaking point. It's unlikely that any team will meet it. No matter how Rupert finishes the season out, there's likely to be skepticism about a guy who hasn't been productive at the NBA level outside of a tanking environment.
That said, Rupert is averaging 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 64 games this season while shooting 32.4% from 3-point range on 2.1 attempts per game.
Rupert has always been an intriguing player. At 6-foot-7, he's the type of multipositional defender that NBA teams covet. He's not a shot creator, but he's a solid connective passer. If Rupert is hitting his threes, he's a rotation-worthy player.
Even if he's not going to drop 30-point triple-doubles regularly.