Detroit Pistons Receive: C Mo Bamba
Orlando Magic Receive: PF Trey Lyles, PF Kelly Olynyk, 2024 Second-Round Pick
Mo Bamba is in the final year of his rookie contract and his tenure with the Orlando Magic has not lived up to the original expectations the team had.
At the beginning of his NBA career, Bamba was often stuck behind Nikola Vucevic on the depth chart. Injuries also were a significant hamper on his availability and having COVID-19 didn’t help his cause, either. Things just haven’t worked out. Even now, he’s playing at the four next to Wendell Carter Jr. often.
Bamba is a former lottery pick but has been unable to develop in the league. Perhaps landing with a new team could give him the fresh start that he needs to turn a corner in his development. A chance to be complementary talent benefitting from the playmaking of Cade Cunningham could go a long way.
This is a chance for the Detroit Pistons to take a chance on Bamba for cheap. They would not have to send a first-round pick. Trey Lyles would lead the return as a replacement big man who could hang around for years to come.
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The Pistons would also get rid of the contract of Kelly Olynyk, who is a veteran option that is not part of the long-term plan. Instead, taking a chance on a talent like Bamba could be worth the risk.
Detroit would be able to throw in a second-round pick as a sweetener but that is not a big deal when looking at the deal as a whole. Let’s take a closer look and see how this trade would benefit both sides right away.
