Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
The Toronto Raptors need a center, right? Surely, they must.
In all actuality, some may differ. In 2021-22, Pascal Siakam started at the position. Some would argue that he had a lot of success, too. To be sure, the Raptors’ wing-heavy rotation made them a tough opponent and looked interesting throughout the season.
At the same time, the Raptors got eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. They don’t need to go out and broker a blockbuster deal for one of the league’s best big men. Still, it feels like a traditional rim protector and inside presence would do this team well.
Enter Mo Bamba. He may not be the dominant defensive big man some fans hoped to see, but he remains a solid rim protector in drop coverage. Furthermore, he’s an adequate floor spacer, so the Raptors wouldn’t have to change their offensive schemes in half-court sets too dramatically after adding him.
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In all likelihood, Bamba would take Siakam’s starting spot, bumping the veteran back down to his usual power forward position. On the other hand, Bamba may not play 30 minutes a night. He could be a spot starter. All told, the Raptors would have one of the deepest and most versatile frontcourt rotations in the NBA following this deal.
