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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Summer League Takeaways

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns and Mohamed Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic look on during the game during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns and Mohamed Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic look on during the game during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Mohamed Bamba, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: James Webb III #0 of the Brooklyn Nets and Mohamed Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic battle for rebounding position during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Cox Pavilion on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Magic defeated the Nets 84-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

What impressed you most about Mohamed Bamba’s play? What is the next thing he has to work on before camp?

Henderson: Mohamed Bamba has been very impressive so far, but still has so far to go. He is going to be asked to be the rim protector for a defense that has been one of the worst in the NBA. Bamba will have to grow fast if the Magic want to become a threat in the LeBron James-less Eastern Conference. He reminds me of a young Roy Hibbert and hopefully Jonathan Isaac can turn into a young Paul George.

Rossman-Reich: Mohamed Bamba is still really raw. On both ends, for that matter. He is going to rely on his physicality rather than his positioning early on in his career as he learns things. But what impressed me most is his willingness to fight and be physical, despite his slight frame. He is going to add all the strength he needs in the coming years. But he is willing to use what he has at the moment. And his length is certainly impressive enough to change and impact things for the team. The other thing that really impressed me is his end-to-end speed. He runs the floor really well for a big man and is a lot more athletic than lanky.

Palmer: What impressed me most about Mohammed Bamba was his willingness to shoot a jumper if it was open. By now, most Magic fans are probably aware of all the work that Bamba put in to improve his jumper. But a lot of times that work does not immediately translate. In Bamba’s case, you could see a drastic improvement on his jumper and the fact his range extended out to the 3-point line is an amazing development for the Magic.

As for what Bamba needs to work on: His strength and conditioning. One thing that really concerned me about Bamba was how gassed he looked when it was time to crash the defensive glass. Bamba did not really attack the boards he more or less kind of watched it. He seemed gassed. And based on his college rebounding, I think it is safe to say that was the problem.