NBA Trade Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers could target Mo Bamba at the deadline.
As the Los Angeles Lakers continue to roll through the regular season in cruise control, it’s expected that this team will be looking to improve their roster, as most contenders try to do, ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline.
Los Angeles remains one of the deepest teams in the league, certainly in the Western Conference, but could use help along their frontcourt. While there are many names that have already been linked to the Lakers, one way or another, one interesting potential target, according to a recent report, is Orlando Magic big Mo Bamba.
Bamba is in the third year of his career after being selected sixth overall by the Magic in the 2018 NBA Draft.
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"[via New York Post]Bamba is in and out of the rotation, playing in just 12 games this season. Bamba is 22 and the Knicks looked to trade up in that draft to get the former Texas Longhorns star. The Lakers also reportedly have interest."
Over the course of his young career, Bamba has emerged and developed as the player many believed that he could be. In the first three years of his career, Bamba is averaging just six points and five rebounds per game. He’s also only playing in nine minutes per contest this season; 15 minutes per game over the course of his career.
Bamba would be a good reclamation project for any contending team that wouldn’t necessarily need him to be a lottery pick caliber type of player. The Lakers, in essence, would be a great candidate to get his career back on track – just as they did for Dwight Howard and similar to what the Golden State Warriors did for JaVale McGee a few years ago.
The raw talent has never been in question for Bamba. He simply hasn’t been able to put it all together during his time with the Magic. There will be teams interested in him at the trade deadline; it will all depend on whether Orlando is ready to give up on the 7-foot prospect after just three seasons.