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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Mohamed Bamba looking to add to Orlando Magic’s long history at center

By Cj Kania

AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 12: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns holds the ball away from Tristan Clark #25 (back) and Jake Lindsey #3 (front) of the Baylor Bears at the Frank Erwin Center on February 12, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 12: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns holds the ball away from Tristan Clark #25 (back) and Jake Lindsey #3 (front) of the Baylor Bears at the Frank Erwin Center on February 12, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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The Good

Mohamed Bamba is expected to come in and transform a team’s defense on day one.

He is the type of player a team can build their defensive system around, closing hard at shooters and funneling all drives to the basket right into those long shot-blocking limbs.

In the modern NBA, as we have seen with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and almost every playoff team, to be successful guarding teams in the pick and roll nowadays you must have a big who can switch onto guards and not get eaten alive.

Bamba has the ability to terrorize teams in the pick and roll defensively. Switching onto guards and using his athleticism to stay in front of them, combined with his length, he can still contest shots when he gets beat.

He averaged 4.9 blocks and 16.7 rebounds per 40 minutes and only 3.4 fouls showing he has good instincts on the glass and does not bite on a lot of pump fake like some young shot blockers do.

Defensively Bamba is a monster. He will make an impact there immediately for any team just by his presence. But his potential on offense is what makes him such a tantalizing prospect.

He can finish around the rim with ease due to his size and athletic ability, but also shows a good feel with simple hook shots. He has decent footwork under the rim.

Bamba gets up and down the floor very well for someone his size and uses that quickness on rolls to the basket.

While not an incredible leaper he is long and quick enough off his feet that he is a lob threat and also had some truly incredible dunks driving to the basket at Texas.

The skill that could turn Bamba into one of the best two-way players in the league is the 3-point shooting. He showed good form in college on limited attempts but has improved it even more throughout the draft process showing that he has the potential to be a threat from deep in a couple of years.

Combining Mohamed Bamba with Jonathan Issac would turn the Magic into a defensive juggernaut overnight and give this team a foundation to build on for the future.

If Bamba reaches his potential offensively too then you really have something brewing.