Mo Bamba is signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Bamba was an unrestricted free agent after getting waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers acquired Bamba from the Orlando Magic at the 2023 February trade deadline for Patrick Beverley. The big man only appeared in nine regular-season games with Los Angeles due to an ankle injury. He averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 40.7% from the field, 31.3% from beyond the arc and 54.5% from the free-throw line.
The Magic drafted Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Texas. The New York native has career averages of 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Magic and Lakers. He didn’t have a role with Los Angeles in the 2023 playoffs, playing only 10 total minutes.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Mo Bamba, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Sixers, who lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games, are bringing in Bamba with the intention of keeping restricted free agent Paul Reed. Bamba gives the team some security behind Joel Embiid if they do lose Reed.
Doc Rivers was fired as head coach after the 2023 playoffs and replaced by Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors. The Sixers are currently dealing with James Harden’s trade request. The former MVP opted into his 2023-24 player option and wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Mo Bamba, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
There is strong optimism on Harden’s side that he will be traded to the Clippers. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining them in Los Angeles.
Harden led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career last season and helped Embiid win the MVP Award.
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