NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics interested in Mo Bamba?

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 31: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns dunks the basketball during the game
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 31: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns dunks the basketball during the game

NBA Trade Rumors: The Boston Celtics have reportedly shown interest in moving up in the draft to select Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba could be one of the biggest sleepers in the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s 7-feet tall with a freakish 7-foot-10 wingspan. He’s equally athletic and even has the potential to develop a consistent jumper.

He’s the prototypical big man in today’s NBA, and is barely beginning to scratch the surface on the player that he could be.

And one team that is reportedly extremely high on Bamba is the Boston Celtics. Even though Boston doesn’t exactly hold a pick that is high enough to select the Texas big man, they certainly have the assets to trade up for him.

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"[via Sporting News]Sources told Sporting News that Boston has expressed interest in Bamba, including interviewing him at the Chicago pre-draft combine two weeks ago.…The Celtics have the No. 27 pick, but they have multiple assets on hand that could help them move into the top five of the draft, where the Grizzlies (No. 4) and Mavericks (No. 5) have made it clear they’re willing to make a deal."

But the Celtics don’t just have a myriad of picks that would be appealing to any team selecting in the 4-7 range; they also have numerous young players that could be movable too. And keep this in mind, because it’s going to be a theme that is repeated over the next few months and possibly years: The Celtics can’t pay everyone, and they have plenty to pay.

For example, Marcus Smart is a free agent this offseason and because of the young core that Boston has assembled, might be forced to let him walk this summer.

Bamba is exactly what the Celtics could use. He’s a young big, that can grow into his own with this young core, and can do everything on the floor – including protecting the rim, effectively. Bamba averaged nearly four blocks per game during his freshman year at Texas.

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But it will likely cost Boston. And I’m not sure if they’re ready to pay that type of price.