The Orlando Magic aren’t utilizing Mo Bamba much for yet another year of his NBA career. As the trade deadline nears, could the Boston Celtics take advantage?

Many people see big men as defensive anchors in the NBA. There’s some merit in that distinction. Perimeter defense is a group effort. You can hide one weak perimeter defender if you’ve got a number of strong ones. By contrast, protecting the rim is a one-man job. If your last line of defense is broken, it’s hard to get stops. 

Yet, in the modern NBA, a rim protection specialist may not be enough. Big men who can survive defending in space have become increasingly popular. 

Still, even a big who can’t switch can retain value just by protecting the rim. For example, Mo Bamba can’t switch, but he remains a solid rim protector. By contrast, Robert Williams III is a versatile defender, but unfortunately, he struggles with staying healthy. 

It would make sense for the Celtics to find a rim protector with the physical tools their current options lack. Bamba appears to be an intriguing option.

Could the two find themselves on the same team this season?