When the Trail Blazers waived Rayan Rupert to make room for Sidy Cissoko, it felt like the right move. However, Rupert is already making Portland have second thoughts.
Since getting picked up by the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract, Rupert has looked confident and improved. His play is making it impossible not to question if the Blazers should have prioritized him more.
Rayan Rupert is looking like a real NBA player with the Grizzlies
It’s been just four games, but Rupert has been a steal so far for Memphis. The young wing has been playing 27.3 minutes per game, and in that time, he’s averaging 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals on 42.4% shooting from the field. That’s better production than what can usually be expected from a 10-day contract player.
Rupert has been aggressive inside the arc, seeking out scoring chances at the rim and in floater range. He’s attempting 5.0 two-pointers per game with the Grizz, converting on 50.0% of them. The Frenchman is also making an impact on defense, using his long arms to be a nuisance, as underscored by his average of 1.8 steals.
The three-ball still isn’t falling much for Rupert— he’s at just 30.8% from deep so far. But, he’s been very comfortable letting it fly, putting up 3.3 shots per game from downtown.
During his time with the Blazers, Rupert’s development was pretty stagnant. He was virtually the same player on the day he got cut as he was when he first got drafted. But, seeing how he’s been able to spread his wings with more opportunity in Memphis, maybe it was Portland’s fault that he didn’t get better.
Young guys need playing time and patience to develop in the NBA. The Blazers weren’t giving Rupert much of either. He rarely saw real rotation minutes for Portland, especially in games with higher stakes. It was clear the coaching staff just didn’t really believe in him. Now, in Memphis, he’s embodying the effect of coaches instilling confidence in their players by letting them get experience and play through mistakes.
As Rupert’s stock trends upward, Sidy Cissoko's has started to fall, throwing more salt on Portland’s wound. Cissoko hasn’t eclipsed six points in any of his last five games, struggling with efficiency, fouls, and turnovers. He deserves grace based on how well he’s played this season overall, but it definitely hurts to see him slip while Rupert is soaring.
Again, Rupert has played just four games for the Grizzlies. He might not even earn a longer-term deal with them after his 10-day expires. But, as of today, the Blazers are no doubt starting to regret letting him go.