We are a month away from this year’s trade deadline and candidates to be moved are starting to emerge. There are several players who are having down years compared to previous seasons and could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Some of …
We are a month away from this year’s trade deadline and candidates to be moved are starting to emerge. There are several players who are having down years compared to previous seasons and could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Some of these players are miscast in new situations while others have seen their roles reduced by big changes to their team’s roster. While some of these players haven’t been explicitly reported to be trade candidates, their respective teams are probably willing to listen to offers for them.
Here are some players who could benefit from being traded to a new team…
The Lakers are reportedly one of several teams interested in acquiring Mo Bamba, a rising young center.
With Anthony Davis expected to be out of action for at least a month with a foot injury, the Los Angeles Lakers could definitely use some help at the center position.
Thomas Bryant has been playing well since returning from a thumb injury in November. In two starts since Davis’ injury, he has stepped up his overall game very nicely.
Damian Jones, the Lakers’ only other true center, played well on Monday versus the Phoenix Suns, producing seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 22 minutes.
But the team continues to canvass the NBA to see who could be available, and one center who could be available is the Orlando Magic’s Mo Bamba. Reportedly, the Lakers are one of several teams interested in him.
“Former No. 6 overall pick Mo Bamba may be the Magic’s greatest trade chip,” wrote Jake Fischer. “Orlando pursued Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, sources said, before the center joined New York, and the Magic then re-signed Bamba to a two-year, $20.6 million deal. League executives expect Orlando to hold out for a protected first-round selection or a late first-round pick to part with the 24-year-old rim presence. There are teams like the Lakers and (Los Angeles) Clippers, as well as Toronto, Sacramento and Brooklyn, that front-office personnel expect to sniff around the big-man market ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline and may be willing to cough up a pair of second-round choices for Bamba.”
Bamba has been a rising prospect over the past couple of years. The 24-year-old, who is seven feet tall and 231 pounds, is averaging 8.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 19 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field and 38.7% from 3-point range on 2.9 attempts a contest.
He would likely be a nice addition for L.A., as he can protect the rim while tossing in 3-pointers to open the court for Davis (when he returns), LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Lonnie Walker IV in the paint.
However, the Lakers’ greatest need isn’t at the center position but at small forward and power forward.
Is Mo Bamba the answer for the Nets on the interior?
The Brooklyn Nets should be thinking about trading for Orlando Magic big Mo Bamba, according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report. The Nets are 13-11 (tied with the Indiana Pacers for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings) after beating the Toronto Raptors 114-105 on Friday.
Brooklyn is a small team as currently constructed as Nic Claxton is the only true big on the team. Other than Claxton, guys like Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons (currently out because of a left calf injury), and Royce O’Neale have to help out with rebounding and protecting the rim because of the lack of size on the roster.
Due to the fact that Brooklyn struggles with size (28th in defensive rebounding percentage, B/R suggests going after a player like Bamba who can assist in the frontcourt:
“The Nets need more help on the interior behind Nic Claxton. In a perfect world, said assistance would come from someone who could clean up mistakes on the defensive end and not spoil the spacing on offense.
Bamba could be up to the task.
For his career, he’s averaged 2.7 blocks and 11.5 rebounds per 36 minutes and shot 35.3 percent from three. He should also be available for the right price, since the Magic have reduced his role to clear the runway for the ascending Bol Bol.”
What would center Mo Bamba offer to the Rockets, and how might he fit the roster? With Houston reportedly showing interest early in free agency, let’s take a look.
Orlando center Mo Bamba enters unrestricted free agency starting late Thursday. The No. 6 overall pick from the 2018 NBA draft never quite found his footing with the Magic, despite having the opportunity to start 69 games while averaging 25.7 minutes per game last season.
Bamba averaged 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds with a 38.1% from the 3-point arc, impressive for a big man, during his first season as a full-time starter. His defensive prowess also showed with 1.7 blocks per game while making life difficult in the paint for opponents. Now, the market seems primed to give him the potential opportunity for an expanded role.
The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and the Toronto Raptors are noted to be interested amongst multiple teams going into Thursday. Another interested party? The Houston Rockets.
Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Rockets may be interested in bringing the University of Texas product back to the Lone Star State.
Despite their commitment this offseason to establishing second-year center Alperen Sengun as the starter, having shipped incumcent Christian Wood off to the Dallas Mavericks in the process, the Rockets have been linked to multiple centers in the upcoming free agency period.
At a glance, signing Bamba could be excellent value. He would bring a 3-point shooting and defensive presence that other big men on the roster currently can’t offer. It’s also possible that, in a new situation with new coaching, Bamba could benefit from a change of scenery.
This new skillset could open up opportunities for head coach Stephen Silas to employ diverse lineups featuring Bamba outside the 3-point arc as a floor-spacing shooter — while also clogging the lane, as needed.
However, digging into the nuances of Houston’s backup center role, this proposition becomes a bit more interesting on every level. The first question goes towards the team’s interest, itself. Is it warranted?
Last season, the Rockets drafted Usman Garuba at No. 23 overall in the 2021 NBA draft. The selection was made around the premise that Garuba could become a defensive showstopper. His strong athleticism and a somewhat limited offensive game have led many to project him as a Robert Williams-esque center. Signing anyone in free agency would almost certainly deter the development of Garuba and make it more difficult for Houston to develop a project they were once quite keen on.
Even if Houston still wants more option beyond Sengun and Garuba, another question remains: Is Mo Bamba the best fit in free agency?
The Rockets have also been linked to Brooklyn center Nic Claxton, with speculation that Houston could perhaps lure the center by using their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE), which means a starting salary in the range of $10.5 million annually. Claxton has flashed talent in Brooklyn, and many around the league think he could excel in an expanded role away from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
Houston is also said to be interested in Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein. Hartenstein played for the Rockets from 2018 through 2020.
These players lack the shooting ability and the high upside of Bamba, but could they be smoother fits in smaller roles next to Jalen Green and Jabari Smith. Silas will be designing the offense around those two in conjunction with Sengun, and he needs surrounding pieces that fit.
Brooklyn is unlikely to match an MLE offer ($10.3M) for Nic Claxton per @Jonathan_Feigen. This goes against several reports saying Nets would match such an offer.
Letting Clax go would be a mistake. He’s an asset whether on the court or as a trade piece later this season.
Finally, one has to wonder if Bamba even wants to join the Rockets.
Houston, among many other teams, will be offering him a backup position. While it is certainly possible that Bamba could eventually play his way into the starting lineup with his talent, all signs point to Sengun being given every chance to shine as the team’s franchise center.
In addition to a likely bench role, Bamba would likely be headed to another losing season, in this scenario. The Rockets are projected to go through more growing pains next season (2022-23) on their way to one last high-draft pick before attempting to compete. Is Bamba willing to take a role on another losing team for a limited minutes opportunity — just to watch them potentially select a center atop the lottery next year? Another undesirable outcome, if he played well, would be if the rebuilding Rockets traded Bamba without his consent for future draft capital.
This could be a difficult sell if the Lakers and LeBron James are offering Bamba the opportunity to start and try to compete for the playoffs.
Ultimately, with the state the Rockets are in, signing Bamba would make some sense. His talent and unique skills, assuming his willingness to come to Houston, could only add to the list of possibilities for a team that is seeking to find its identity in the 2022-23 season.
No free agent signing is likely to transform the franchise. Moreover, as we saw last year with Daniel Theis, trades can allow for teams to quickly bail on experiments that don’t work. This team will move as Green and Smith do and, in the meantime, it can’t hurt to take chances on talent.
While the Rockets are currently positioned to have major salary cap room in 2023, there’s not much harm in spending a small portion a year early, if the right player is willing to sign. After all, adding talented pieces to Houston’s young core is the primary goal. If something comes along in the 2022 offseason that meets that objective, it would be silly to rule it out — especially if the contract is at a reasonable enough value to where that cap space could be regained with a later trade, as we saw with Theis.
Houston is in a position to swing big. Bamba might be just that.
The Lakers will reportedly try to acquire Mo Bamba, a young and improving center who is currently with the Orlando Magic.
One of the Los Angeles Lakers’ needs is at least one true center who can start alongside Anthony Davis and allow him to play the 4 the majority of the time.
Although Davis has done well at times when playing center, especially during the team’s championship run in 2020, it is generally believed that having him play extended minutes at that spot is a bad idea.
Perhaps reducing his minutes at the 5 will reduce his risk for injury.
This season, Davis spent 76 percent of his playing time at the 5, compared to 10 percent last season and 40 percent in 2020.
To that end, the Lakers will reportedly look to acquire center Mo Bamba.
Bamba could be as close to the percent center as possible for the Purple and Gold.
He averaged 1.7 blocks per game this season, to go along with 8.1 rebounds in 25.7 minutes a game, which would allow him to help L.A. tremendously on the defensive end.
Offensively, he is a lob threat, and he finishes strong at the rim.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bamba’s game is the fact that he’s become a pretty good 3-point shooter. He made 38.1 percent of his triples this season, and it’s an aspect he has recently added.
The 7-foot tall, 231-pound 24-year-old will be a free agent, and he will have to take a pay cut to join L.A., which may make it a little unrealistic or at least difficult for the Lakers to get him.
But if they do, it would be a significant coup for a team that needs to get younger and more athletic while adding more 3-point shooting.
Chicago is looking to bolster their front court with a rim protector.
As the free agency negotiation period begins tomorrow in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls have some decisions to make.
First and foremost, the resigning of two-time All-Star Zach LaVine will make or break Chicago’s offseason.
Second, if a big trade isn’t in the cards for Vice President of Basketball Operations Artunas Karnisovas, look for the Bulls to add some much needed front court depth and rim protection behind Nikola Vucevic.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday that the Bulls have interest in two big man free agents, Magic center Mo Bamba and Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein.
For Mo Bamba, the Magic are expected to let Bamba test the unrestricted waters, per Khobi Price of Orlando Sentinel. The fifth-year big man out of the Univeristy of Texas would provide a versatile body on both ends of the floor, who can stretch out to the perimeter, hitting 38% from downtown, and protect the rim on the defensive end.
For Hartenstein, as Fischer noted, the likely addition of John Wall to the Clippers will eat up their taxpayer mid-level, but as Marc Stein reported on Wednesday, the Orlando Magic has emerged as the favorite to sign Hartenstein, confirming Bamba’s availability on the free market.
Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Rockets will enter 2022 free agency with at least some interest in Magic big man Mo Bamba, as well as Isaiah Hartenstein of the Clippers.
With Christian Wood traded and Alperen Sengun a first-time starter at center with notorious fouling concerns, Houston is understandably in the market for center depth entering the NBA’s 2022 free agency.
The Rockets are over the salary cap entering the 2022 offseason and limited to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE) as a maximum offer to players, starting at around $10.5 million annually.
But with Houston projected to have major salary cap room in 2023, the big question is whether the rebuilding Rockets are simply bargain basement shopping for any big man who might fall through the cracks and be open to a one-year contract, or if they might be willing to invest more heavily and cut into their potential 2023 flexibility for the right fit.
Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone appears open to a more substantial investment — at least if the player is young enough to mesh with Houston’s young core. Iko writes:
Bamba is already generating interest from a slew of teams ahead of Thursday’s free agency — with Houston, Chicago, and Orlando among them, sources said.
Like Bamba, a number of teams have expressed interest in Hartenstein — Houston included — who is also open to a return to the Clippers, but with Wall headed there for what figures to be a good chunk of their mid-level exception — and Ivica Zubac reportedly inking a $33 million extension, running it back looks a bit more complex. Hartenstein would fit well with this current Rockets team, being able to function as a rim-runner, passer, rim protector, and also space the floor.
Both Bamba and Hartenstein are only 24 years old. Bamba averaged 10.6 points (48.0% FG, 38.1% on 3-pointers), 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 25.7 minutes with the Magic last season, while Hartenstein averaged 8.3 points (62.6% FG, 46.7% on 3-pointers), 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 17.9 minutes per game with the Clippers.
Mo Bamba is generating interest from a slew of teams ahead of Thursday’s free agency, including the Rockets, Bulls and Magic, sources tell @KellyIkoNBA.
Bamba will be a restricted free agent. Because Orlando will have the ability to match any outside offer and still retain Bamba, that could make Hartenstein — who is unrestricted — more obtainable.
Either way, though, both are the type of talented young big that is unlikely to be a bargain basement signing, particularly when free agency negotiations open on Thursday evening. Thus, Houston’s willingness to show interest in Bamba and Hartenstein would seem to be a signal that Stone and the Rockets are open to bidding higher, for the right player.
Iko also identifies Gorgui Dieng, most recently of the Hawks, and veteran Suns center JaVale McGee as players of interest. However, unlike Bamba and Hartenstein, those would presumably be at a lower price point.
. @danfavale thinks these two young centers could benefit by signing with the Thunder.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale published an article that lists 10 NBA free agents that need a change of scenery to salvage their careers. A couple of the players mentioned were linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder as a new home for them.
The two players are a pair of young bigs in Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton and Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba, who are both restricted free agents.
The Magic — who will most likely select Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. first overall in the 2022 NBA draft — have a frontcourt logjam with Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac and potentially Smith Jr. Bamba’s contract and health could cause him to be the odd man out as he has played just 226 games in four seasons.
Claxton has stayed trouble being healthy — playing just 94 games in three seasons — but has been impressive in his time on the court as an athletic and young center. The Nets might not be able to bring Claxton back as he could potentially be priced out with an offer sheet from another team.
In all likelihood, the Thunder will probably not go after either of these young centers as general manager Sam Presti said in his exit interview that the team will be relatively quiet in free agency this summer.
It is no secret that Orlando Magic’s front office has an affinity for length.
It is no secret that Orlando Magic’s front office has an affinity for length.
Magic general manager John Hammond drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thon Maker, both of whom have a 7-foot-3 wingspan, during his tenure as an executive with the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, in Orlando, he has continued to prioritize length by targeting players like Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac.
So it was not a surprise when the Magic traded for Bol Bol, a 7-foot-2 former McDonald’s All-American who has a 7-foot-8 wingspan. Bol would make for a fascinating fit alongside Bamba, who has a 7-foot-10 wingspan.
Unfortunately, however, Bol recently had foot surgery and is out indefinitely. It is unclear if he will make a return to the court this season. But what about next year?
Bol is a restricted free agent this offseason and based on the fact he was already traded multiple times in 2021-22, he might not have a tremendous amount of value around the league. Orlando has a decision to make about his contract, though he seems to fit the bill for what the team often seeks in their roster construction.
Bamba is also headed towards restricted free agency once the season ends, so like with Bol, his long-term status with the Magic is not yet determined. But if the fans have their way, they will get to see at least one lineup featuring the two incredibly lengthy players.
Shortly after the trade was reported, it didn’t take long for NBA Twitter to fantasize about what that two-man pairing would look like in real life and not just a video game.
The Thunder were gifted with three possible trade targets along with trade destinations for Kenrich Williams and Mike Muscala by @BleacherReport
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz released an article that listed the top three trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams. The trade deadline is 17 days away on Feb. 10.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will probably be sellers this deadline as playoff contenders will call in to see the price of Kenrich Williams, the 27-year-old is averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 38.2 percent from three in 39 games. Williams’ is also on a cheap contract, as he has a non-guaranteed two million dollar salary for the 2022-23 season that will easily be picked up.
Trading Williams makes sense on in a vacuum. But his recent comments to The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto about wanting to stay in Oklahoma City and retire in a Thunder uniform has made things a bit complicated as the human element plays a role — especially with how his teammates and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault continuously praise him.
With all that said, let’s take a look at the three trade targets Swartz thinks the Thunder should target along with other team’s targets that involve a Thunder player.
