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With the Celtics’ 2017-18 season having ended in an epic Game 7 finish, the offseason speculation around how Danny Ainge will improve the team has begun. One rumor that has arisen is the Celtics’ potential interest in Texas big man Mohamed Bamba. With a ridiculous 7-foot-10 wingspan, Bamba is a likely top-5 pick with star potential in his future. Could that future be in Boston? Here’s what you need to know.
Mohamed Bamba is a one-and-done player out of the University of Texas at Austin, where he played 30 games (including one in the playoffs). At Texas, he averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. He’s a physical beast at 6-11 and has a record-setting 7 foot, 10 inch wingspan. Not only is he big, but Bamba is also mobile. This last point is especially important because in today’s NBA, successful big men must be able to exercise quickness and agility, otherwise they become a matchup liability (just ask Timofey Mozgov).
Bamba’s game is solid in all areas, but his strength definitely lies on the defensive end, where he can be expected to make an immediate impact. Averaging 3.7 blocks per game at the collegiate level, Bamba’s size and skill allow him to be a potentially transformative rim protector and force on the boards. For a Boston team that lacks a true defensive paint presence, Bamba could fill a big hole in an already superb defense. Bamba is also talented offensively, but his game there is far less polished--he isn’t likely to be a game-changing offensive presence from day one. However, his size and mobility make him a force in the paint, while he has the potential to be a long-range shooter. Bamba was not good from beyond the arc at Texas (he shot 27.5% from 3), but there exists a consensus that he has the potential to be a respectable shooter from mid-range, if not from deep.
I’ve already alluded to where Bamba would fit on the Celtics roster: He would give Boston a true center with star potential. Bamba brings the traditional center skills that the current roster lacks, thus making the Celtics a more dynamic squad that is capable of matching up with any team size-wise. His rim-protecting skills would be a welcome addition, and Bamba’s presence would also free up Al Horford to play more of his natural position at the 4.
Bamba does not come without risk. His offensive game is limited and unpolished--not necessarily a good fit with a Boston roster that sometimes struggled to score last season. Furthermore, while he has all the tools to be a good defender, there were times when he didn’t demonstrate the utmost effort or attention on the defensive end. Another important question mark is timing; with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward expected to be healthy next season, the Celtics are very much in the thick of NBA Finals contention. With that in mind, is adding a rookie with a clear need for development the best move to help the Celtics compete next year? Are rookie mistakes worth the potential long-term benefits? The final, crucial question is what it would require to acquire Bamba, or more specifically, the draft capital necessary to get him before another team does.
Bamba is expected to be a top-5 pick, so in order to get him, the Celtics would need to trade up--way up. The first three teams in this year’s draft, the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks respectively, are unlikely to part with their selections. These first three will likely be some combination of DeAndre Ayton, Luka Doncic, and Marvin Bagley. That leaves the Memphis Grizzlies at #4 and the Dallas Mavericks at #5, two teams are in different positions. The Mavericks are still rebuilding and need a replacement for longtime star Dirk Nowitzki, making it more unlikely that they would pass up the opportunity to acquire a talent like Bamba’s for themselves. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are looking to compete next year, having a healthy Mike Conley along with Marc Gasol, both of whom should be productive. The Grizzlies could be a better fit for the assets Boston has to offer given that they already have a center and thus don’t need Bamba. The Celtics have draft capital, including this year’s first-rounder, the Sacramento Kings’ selection next year (which should be a lottery pick), and the Grizzlies’ 2019 first-round pick (top-8 protected).
In addition to a draft pick, the deal would likely include a talented young player, and the Celtics have two potentially realistic options. I’m assuming Jayson Tatum is off-limits, but Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier might be available. Of the two, Rozier has upside, but Brown is clearly better, a potential star in the making, even after his dreadful Game 7 performance. Brown could be particularly alluring for both the Mavericks and the Grizzlies, who are both looking for athletic wings like the third-year option out of Cal. While giving up Brown would be a high price, the Celtics would be trading from an area of depth in order to create a more balanced roster. Boston as currently constructed will have a lot of wing players next year, with Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford all set to remain on the roster. This logjam of similar skill sets could potentially be problematic next year; substituting Bamba for Brown preserves the team’s versatility and ability to switch while also adding a the rim-protecting big man the roster lacks.
The reality of the Boston Celtics is that they could make no major moves this offseason and still be in a great place to contend next year. However, the Celtics front office is never idle, and adding Bamba could be a realistic way to add a young, high-upside, controllable talent in an area of need. Keep an eye on it, because crazier things have happened.
(Stats via Basketball-Reference)
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