Mo Bamba was the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He was always viewed as a long-term project, with plenty of potential due to his athleticism and length. While he has not become a star-level player yet, Bamba is a solid floor spacer and rim protector. This past season, Mo Bamba averaged 10.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 1.7 BPG for the Orlando Magic while shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc.
Even though he is a clearly talented player, it is hard to envision a big role for Mohamed Bamba in the Orlando Magic’s future. They just drafted elite big man prospect Paolo Banchero and also have a number of other big men on the roster.
Eastern Conference Executive Thinks Mo Bamba Could Be A Trade Target For The Bulls
Though Mo Bamba cannot be traded right now, he will be able to get traded later on in the 2022-23 season. It seems as though there are teams that could potentially be interested in acquiring.
An Eastern Conference Executive that spoke to Sean Deveney of Heavy has recently revealed that the Chicago Bulls have “liked Mo Bamba in the past”, and added that “they could make a run on him” once he is able to be traded. The executive also suggested that the Bulls should trade Alex Caruso to acquire him.
“[The Bulls] have liked Mo Bamba in the past,” an Eastern Conference executive tells Heavy’s Sean Deveney, “and once he gets trade eligible (in January) that would be something where they could make a run at him…The Magic have no need for Bamba, long-term, not with Paolo Banchero and Carter there.”
The executive suggests using defensive ace Alex Caruso as “bait” to get a trade for Bamba done with the Magic.
“Caruso would be a nice fit on a team that is trying to learn to be professional and to win. They also need guards. If you’re going to move Caruso, I’d want a guy like Bamba back. It’s a good deal for both sides.”
It remains to be seen if the Chicago Bulls do end up making a deal for Mo Bamba in the future. He would certainly improve the rim protection on the roster. However, giving up Alex Caruso would also hurt them as he is an elite perimeter defender. That is something to consider when making the deal.
Hopefully, we see the Chicago Bulls be a competitive team next season, and they could potentially make a deep playoff run next year. Mo Bamba would certainly make them better, and having a defensive anchor would certainly make them closer to a top-tier team.
