Author: Monojit Mandal
Since the opening of free agency on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers have been aggressively building their roster for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. The team has already reached an agreement with point guards D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, as well as forward Rui Hachimura, to keep them. They also added point guard Gabe Vincent, forwards Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince and forward Jaxson Hayes to the squad.
Although the Lakers have made substantial changes, there is still one vacancy left and the organization has a plan to fill it. According to reliable sources, the Lakers are looking to fill the team’s 14th spot with another big player. The organization is evaluating two options: Mo Bamba, who was just waived by the Lakers, and Tristan Thompson, who joined the squad just before last season.
The Lakers, on the other hand, are in no hurry to make a choice. During the current free agency season, the market for big men has been very quiet, and the team may decide to wait for stronger possibilities to emerge before making a choice.
Mo Bamba would be an excellent alternative if the Lakers decide to bring back one of their former posts. Bamba, who is only 25 years old, has greater potential than 32-year-old Tristan Thompson, which makes him a better option to complete the Lakers team.
Bamba didn’t have the opportunity to properly demonstrate his skills during his brief stint with the Lakers last season. In nine regular season games, he averaged 3.7 points and didn’t score in any of his three post-season games. Thompson, on the other hand, joined the Lakers at the end of the period and averaged 1.8 points in six post-season games.
According to reports, Bamba has shown interest in staying with the Lakers, which could benefit the team. Perhaps they don’t need to make a lavish offer to bring him back, but rather settle for the veteran’s minimum after having previously dismissed him.
Returning would be an excellent chance for Bamba. He would be joining a team with the ability to make the playoffs and that has the possibility of making a long run for the post-season in 2024. What’s more, it would give him more time to familiarize himself with the Lakers’ system, perhaps unleashing his full potential. Bamba had already demonstrated his ability, averaging 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds in 71 games for the Orlando Magic in 2021-22.
Although Bamba is unlikely to be a starter, he has the ability to contribute significantly off the bench and develop into one of the team’s best backup options in the position.
Given the Lakers’ current budget constraints, the organization must act with caution before making its final choice. However, Bamba seems to be the strongest option to complete his team. If given the chance, he has the potential to exceed expectations and make a big impact during the upcoming 2023-24 season.
In short, as the Los Angeles Lakers continue to build their roster for the 2023-24 NBA season, signing Mo Bamba would be a natural move to fill the vacancy. He has a greater advantage than Tristan Thompson due to his youth and untapped talent. Returning to the Lakers would give Bamba the opportunity to contribute to a playoff-caliber team and, at the same time, further develop his skills within the organization.