The Orlando Magic received the long-awaited return of Jonathan Isaac during their 113-98 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday. Mo Bamba was a notable scratch from the rotation, with the team opting to play Wendell Carter Jr. and Bol Bol next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner instead. With Bamba falling out of favor, the Magic are a team to watch at the NBA trade deadline.
Bamba signed a two-year, $20.6 million contract to return to the Magic in the offseason. However, he appears to be best suited to be traded ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline. He averaged a career-high 25.7 minutes per game last season and chipped in 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He’s back down to just 17.4 minutes per game this season.
While there are areas for Bamba to improve, it’s safe to say that he is an actual threat out there from deep. With his ability to space the floor and protect the rim, he’s an archetypical modern big man. He hasn’t fully realized his potential in the NBA, but a team acquiring could make the trade to utilize him as their center fully.
There is plenty of justification for an NBA team to take a chance on Bamba to fine-tune his rim protection and develop his offense. Remember, he’s got an insane 7-foot-10 wingspan. In a league where having a paint presence for a defensive anchor is so important, the right team could take his game to intriguing heights.
One team that has been linked to no shortage of big men with shooting ability ahead of the trade deadline is the Miami Heat. They are a team that thrives on defensive versatility. With Bam Adebayo’s uncanny switching ability, imagine if the team had a rim protector on the backline that could also spread the floor offensively.
NBA Analysis Network Trade Scenario
Orlando Magic Receive: G/F Caleb Martin, F Haywood Highsmith, 2028 Second-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 Second-Round Pick (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: C Mo Bamba
With the popularization of the three-point shooting bigs, big men who can guard the perimeter have become fashionable. That’s the unexpected result we referred to. Big men who can switch and close out threes are the new stretch big. Bam Adebayo is the perfect example. He’s a strong rim protector who can guard multiple positions. Would he be a good match with Bamba?
The Heat could take a couple of directions following this deal. They could shift Adebayo to the four. That feels viable. In fact, he’s undersized at the five anyway. Meanwhile, Bamba’s ability to stretch the floor and Adebayo’s defensive versatility make them a reasonable pairing.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic & Miami Heat Updates
On the other hand, the Heat could deploy Bamba as a backup. That makes sense too. He’d give them options when they need more size up front. Realistically, this deal gives them multiple potential looks. That’s ideal in the modern NBA – front-court versatility is at a premium. It never hurts to add more rim protection or shooting. In this trade, the Heat would get both of those attributes in a single player. That sounds wise to us.
The Magic were surely hoping for more from a lottery pick like Bamba. Unfortunately, they’re just not getting it. Bamba’s particular skillset will give him a career in the NBA for a long time, but he’s not likely to develop into the star Orlando once envisioned. Luckily, that’s not a big deal, either. Carter Jr. looks like this team’s long-term starter. With Isaac back, they may actually have a logjam at the four and five. This deal helps clear it up.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic & Miami Heat Updates
It also brings in a 3-and-D wing this team could badly use in Caleb Martin. The Magic probably won’t make a playoff push this season, but they do look like a team on the rise. Adding a quality role player is smart at this point in their rebuild. Even at the cost of a prototypical modern big.
