The Toronto Raptors have bolstered their roster by signing Mo Bamba, a seven-foot center. The NBA team officially announced the acquisition of the 2018 lottery draft pick, following earlier reports of the deal. Specific terms of the contract were not disclosed.
With starting center Jakob Poeltl sidelined due to a back injury, Bamba’s arrival provides the Raptors with much-needed size in the frontcourt. The team has struggled with rim protection in Poeltl’s absence. In a recent game against Golden State, power forward Scottie Barnes, who stands at six-foot-eight, filled in at center and impressively grabbed 25 rebounds. However, his height makes him undersized for the position. Additionally, six-foot-nine forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has also seen time at center during Poeltl’s recovery.
Bamba, a 27-year-old New York native of Ivorian descent, was originally selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2018 NBA draft. Despite stints with various teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans, he has struggled to make a significant impact during his seven-year NBA career. Bamba has averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 16.8 minutes across 364 NBA games, with 101 starts.
Before joining the Raptors, Bamba played 14 games for the Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, this season. He showcased his skills by averaging 16.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.9 blocks, and 28.7 minutes per game.
The Raptors’ game against Bamba’s former team, the Orlando Magic, provided him with an immediate opportunity to showcase his talents on the court.