The Lakers have decided to waive Mohamed Bamba before his $10.3MM salary for the 2023/24 season becomes guaranteed, reports Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
The sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Bamba spent his first four-and-a-half NBA seasons in Orlando before being dealt to the Lakers ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
Although he has flashed the ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim, Bamba saw his role with the Magic decline after the team added Wendell Carter and Paolo Banchero, and played a limited role in Los Angeles before spraining his ankle in March.
In total, Bamba appeared in 49 games in 2022/23, averaging 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest. He posted a shooting line of .485/.387/.661.
Bamba is still just 25 years old and may have untapped upside, but it didn’t make sense for the Lakers to retain him at a price of $10MM+. Cutting him will give Los Angeles some extra cap flexibility entering a crucial offseason and may open the door for the club to use the full, non-taxpayer version of the mid-level exception.
Thought they might have kept him as a salary matching trade chip.
Don’t know what to make of Mo. There’s definitely talent there, not sure why it hasn’t worked out.
Think they tried to trade him with Malik but there probably just wasn’t anything out there.
I am a little surprised they didn’t bring him back, as he seems to be a fit on the roster with the spacing he provides backing up AD. But maybe the Lakers think they can resign him for a lower #?
Stuck in Orlando purgatory. I bet the Heat would of had this guy playing by now.
He honestly looked pretty good in Orlando in 21-22. 11 points and 8 rebounds per game in 25 minutes, with almost 2 blocks per game and 38% from three on four attempts per game; overall good defensive numbers according to opponents shooting percentages as well. His playing time got cut in half last year, though.
he got buried in a Magic frontcourt. One reason why picking for fit is not a bad idea
Nice, am in favor of releasing both Mo and Beasley today , both can come back but Id prefer to stay fluid tomorrow with the risk of them walking
Mo to me should be better than Mitch. He’s got that talent. He’s actually a better offensive player. But he could and should be a rim protector first. Avg 12 reb and 2 blk. He’s athletic enough to do this. You can see he moves better than Mitch. He needs good coaching. There used to be a big man school. Where draft prospects would go to learn to play big. Even young NBA centers who needed tutoring. I don’t think they have that anymore. It’s like Wiseman. How do you draft this potential at 18-19 yrs old. Then not commit to developing him as a big. It’s just incredulous to me. Why draft them ????
Mo is a perfect for the Kings. His ability to stretch the floor & rim run on offense, while rim protecting & rebounding on D, it’s a no brainier. Save a significant portion of that cap space for a better free agent class!
What you saying makes perfect sense on the Sacramento Kings behind Domantas Sabonis because they desperately need a rim protector.
Smart move by the Los Angeles Lakers because he’s definitely not worth $10.3 million a year. I’ll rather have Wenyen Gabriel or Tristan Thompson on the veterans minimum.
I’d rather have Lyles in that spot over Mo. Lyles looked nasty for stretches in that Warriors series. Pistons kicking themselves rn for letting him go.
I want both Lyles & Mo
I like it, but 2k-ville won’t. They’re having a tough week too. I don’t think they’ve been this bewildered since Tacko Fall was released.
He’s a bum. Huge bust.
Bamba would be a nice fit for the Cavaliers backing Allen & Mobley. He plays excellent defense and spaces the floor. He also would be a decent injury replacement. Signing Bamba & Prince around 8 million a year each would leave money for a back up at the point.
Timberpuppies are rumored to be in on signing Bamba as they embark on their revolutionary, franchise altering philosophy of playing FIVE BIGS at the same time.
If the Timberpuppies land him, they are considering calling their FIVE BIGS formation the…………………………………………….
BAMBA SQUAD !!