Mo Bamba

[orthoman]

I was wondering how the Forum feels about Bamba.

This guy plays with no fire in him. He seems to be daydreaming on the court. Minimal to no progress since being drafted.

Two questions:

1. Keep him or trade him?
2. Is there anyway we could package him and move up in our draft position from #5 to a team that needs a big?

[Knightro]

Depends on what happens in the draft.

If they come away with Sengun, I’d be fine moving on from Bamba.

But the Magic aren’t under the gun to make a decision yet. He’s under contract for this upcoming season and then is a restricted free agent, so they have at least another year to determine what they want to do long-term.

[JF5]

I think he's most likely gone by the draft. I think Cliff and his injuries factored into his lack of development. But his lack of an IQ and high motor is what kills him on a nightly basis.

There isnt much of a problem with not having a high IQ when you're young. But you don't play with the lack of effort and you have the goddamn physical ability to effect the game. Something that had Them Birch playing over him.

He can stretch the floor but that can only do so much when you don't have the talent to cover your deficiencies. Plus, he's unplayable for long stretches due to his lack of stamina and endurance.

I hope him the best... but I don't see a future for him here at all unless he miraculously gets motivated and plays with passion.

[JBSouthpaw]

I’ve been anti Bamba his whole time here, but he impressed me down the stretch. I think there is a perfect backup role for him @ 18 min a game. I’d offer him $6 per year for 2 years, if he gets better, he’ll be a fa again.

[Skybox]

I can't imagine why we would bail on him prior to giving him some time with a new coaching staff. He's very intelligent, maybe too introspective for his own good. Maybe someone on the new staff will connect with him and pull the fire out of him. I'm not that high on Carter (although he's better than Bamba today) but I see no reason to dump Bamba unless it's part of a big trade up in the draft or similar significant deal.

[tiderulz]

Draymond Green under Mark Jackson, bench player, 6 ppg 5 rpg. 1st year under Kerr, moved to starter and became key player. Jermaine Oneal on bench in Portland, all-star in Indiana. Bamba isnt going to get anything in return, so might as well see if the new coach can pull the right lever to get him to give a $#$@ about his game and see if he wants to stay in the league. I dont think he can become a star, but just showing some fire he could be a good bench shot blocker.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I think he's most likely gone by the draft. I think Cliff and his injuries factored into his lack of development. But his lack of an IQ and high motor is what kills him on a nightly basis.

There isnt much of a problem with not having a high IQ when you're young. But you don't play with the lack of effort and you have the goddamn physical ability to effect the game. Something that had Them Birch playing over him.

He can stretch the floor but that can only do so much when you don't have the talent to cover your deficiencies. Plus, he's unplayable for long stretches due to his lack of stamina and endurance.

I hope him the best... but I don't see a future for him here at all unless he miraculously gets motivated and plays with passion.

bambas issues are bambas. That said this is a huge offseason for him and we can only hope he turns it around. Management either needs to show they’re committed to him by moving WCJ and turning the reigns over or move him IMO. A change of scenery might do him good, but that doesn’t fix his lack of a motor or feel for the game.

[BDill012]

I think you give home to the at minimum the ASB to see if the new staff can get something out of him. A new voice and a clean start could be what he needs to Rev his motor up.

We'll see... I wouldn't have an issue if he was moved in the off season either though.

[Max Power]

I’m fine with us holding on to Mo for a new coaching staff. The variables to where Bamba is now were many. Cliff clearly didn’t think he earned much court time, we had a beast in front of him in Vucevic, and were in the playoff race the last 3 seasons, not exactly a scenario conducive for developing younger, raw talent.

Now that the objectives in Orlando is developing young guys, I think now is the time to hand over the starting center spot over to him and see how he rolls. Maybe he just needs the organization to show some trust in him. He’s clearly got talent, but he needs to get that motor revved up. There’s no pressure to win now, so let Mo get his run in and we’ll make a final decision on him this time next year.

[basketballRob]

Mo needs to play with a PG and they didn't give him that in 3 years. A couple of seasons ago Mo and Fultz were getting into a rythm, Clifford then promoted Fultz and left him with DJ, who is a terrible passer. This past season Cole played with Mo early on and assisted on 3 threes in a row. Then Clifford quickly squashed them playing together. It's almost like Cliff sabotaged his development for whatever personal reason.

I think a lot of the insinuations and leaving him out of the bubble by Cliff also hurt his confidence. You can tell he has a fragile ego. I've never seen a coach publicly call out a player as much as Cliff did with Bamba.

[VFX]

Keep Bamba. Why not? There’s no drawback to having him backup WCJr and he’s still relatively young.

See what he can do with a coach that doesn’t hate him.

[RookieStar]

If he is used as a sweetener to move up from the #5 then why not.

Otherwise, give him a chance until the allstar break with a new coach. If not, trade him for Bagley lol

[Ducklett]

Mo needs to play with a PG and they didn't give him that in 3 years. A couple of seasons ago Mo and Fultz were getting into a rythm, Clifford then promoted Fultz and left him with DJ, who is a terrible passer. This past season Cole played with Mo early on and assisted on 3 threes in a row. Then Clifford quickly squashed them playing together. It's almost like Cliff sabotaged his development for whatever personal reason.

I think a lot of the insinuations and leaving him out of the bubble by Cliff also hurt his confidence. You can tell he has a fragile ego. I've never seen a coach publicly call out a player as much as Cliff did with Bamba.

Cliff's hate of Bamba was so surreal man. It is crazy. Every time he would have a good game, or have chemistry with one of the guards, he would pull Bamba/change rotations and screw him.

Then call him out postgame when he has Bacon being the worst basketball player in history chucking like he Kobe and MJ fused.

[purpleswordfish]

I don't see him having much trade value in the current market. So, I can't imagine he'll be traded. Of course, I could be wrong. Releasing him would just result in a dead cap hit, so there's no reason to do that. But, if I'm the Magic, I take one last season to kick the tires and see what I have.

Maybe a new coach comes in and he improves, maybe even becomes a starter. If he doesn't, the Magic could easily let him hit RFA and rescind his rights if they need the cap space for something else that offseason.

[axl_c_cool]

If he is used as a sweetener to move up from the #5 then why not.

Otherwise, give him a chance until the allstar break with a new coach. If not, trade him for Bagley lol

This

Big year for Mo, like everyone, unless he helps us move up for Cade then see what he has.

He's good friends with Cole who has a great attitude, so maybe they can make something work next year?

Hampton/Fultz*/MCW
Cole/Bouknight/Harris
Kuminga/Ross/Bacon
Okeke/Isaac*/Porter Jr
Bamba/WCJ/2RP

(*Isaac and Fultz off the bench until 100%)

That's my 15 opening night

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

[RookieStar]

If he is used as a sweetener to move up from the #5 then why not.

Otherwise, give him a chance until the allstar break with a new coach. If not, trade him for Bagley lol

This

Big year for Mo, like everyone, unless he helps us move up for Cade then see what he has.

He's good friends with Cole who has a great attitude, so maybe they can make something work next year?

Hampton/Fultz*/MCW
Cole/Bouknight/Harris
Kuminga/Ross/Bacon
Okeke/Isaac*/Porter Jr
Bamba/WCJ/2RP

(*Isaac and Fultz off the bench until 100%)

That's my 15 opening night

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

OPJ is a FA I doubt we sign him . Bacon is gone especially now that his "backer" Cliff isnt here anymore.

I disagree about JI though.. make him a starter but put him in the minutes restriction category. Have Okeke or JK back him up but play majority of the spots minutes.

[Magicfanatic82]

Might as well wait, bamba or wcj have this season to show us what they can bring. We can either match, trade or let them walk.

[KillMonger]

Like i said before....beautiful thing about this upcoming season is the fact that it's make or break....he's going into a relatively healthy off-season for the first time...he has EVERY incentive to come back better than he's ever been as it's a contract year

[axl_c_cool]

If he is used as a sweetener to move up from the #5 then why not.

Otherwise, give him a chance until the allstar break with a new coach. If not, trade him for Bagley lol

This

Big year for Mo, like everyone, unless he helps us move up for Cade then see what he has.

He's good friends with Cole who has a great attitude, so maybe they can make something work next year?

Hampton/Fultz*/MCW
Cole/Bouknight/Harris
Kuminga/Ross/Bacon
Okeke/Isaac*/Porter Jr
Bamba/WCJ/2RP

(*Isaac and Fultz off the bench until 100%)

That's my 15 opening night

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

OPJ is a FA I doubt we sign him . Bacon is gone especially now that his "backer" Cliff isnt here anymore.

I disagree about JI though.. make him a starter but put him in the minutes restriction category. Have Okeke or JK back him up but play majority of the spots minutes.

Good point on Bacon and JI

I think we'll give Porter Jr a massive contract for 1 year to use as a trade chip in Feb

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

[Skin]

People hate Bamba for the wrong reasons. He's not Trae or Luka. Fine, hate him. Hate the draft lottery gods.

Bamba is not going to be an All-Star, but he's more than fine. Give it a rest people. Our Center position is in a healthy state between WCj and Bamba. I actually don't want him to be an All-Star because we don't need to be spending big money on a single player at this position. 2 guys making a total of $30M is fine. 1 guy making $30M is not fine.