It was not too long ago when Mo Bamba had NBA scouts enamored with his potential. During his lone season at the University of Texas in 2017-18, he averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and a staggering 3.7 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. Bamba's ridiculous 7-foot-10 wingspan was the longest ever recorded at the NBA Draft Combine, and prior to entering the pros he showcased a promising jump shot. So, why has his tenure in the NBA been an underwhelming one thus far?
Bamba's opportunity to have a significant role in the big leagues out of the gate was stripped from him as soon as he was selected sixth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Many were perplexed with the pick, and rightfully so, as Orlando was already stacked in the frontcourt with Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Jonathan Isaac.
In his year and a half with the Magic, Bamba has only averaged 15.9 minutes per contest. With Orlando focusing on reaching the playoffs, it is evident that the 21-year-old will not be thrust into a prominent role anytime soon since he's stuck behind Vucevic, so the lowly Atlanta Hawks should look into trading for the once-touted prospect.
Atlanta is sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with an atrocious record of 8-32 (the worst in the league by a half-game), and much of the reason for this can be attributed to their defensive lapses. They rank dead last in points allowed in the paint (53.4) and give up the second-most second-chance points of any squad (15). Couple that with the fifth-worst defensive rating in basketball (112.6), and it is obvious that the Hawks' coaching staff should be prioritizing improvement on that end.
Enter Mo Bamba as a perfect trade target.
If there is one aspect of Bamba's game that has translated successfully at the highest level so far, it is his aptitude as a rim protector. Despite the inconsistent playing time he has received with the Magic, the 7-footer is tallying 1.3 blocks per game for his career and is averaging the same number in 2019-20. While Bamba's presence alone would certainly not solve the Hawks' bevy of defensive issues, his acquisition could be a step in the right direction. Atlanta lacks a consistent rim protector besides John Collins; Bamba would be the only other player on the roster averaging a block or more.
As a member of the Hawks, Mo Bamba may be in a better position to develop into the game-changing type of talent that some predicted he could be prior to his NBA arrival. It likely wouldn't cost Atlanta too much to acquire the youngster, though as of right now it's unclear if Orlando is truly interested in moving on from him.
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