3 Orlando Magic players Jamahl Mosley can offer a second chance

Orlando Magic players in need of a second chance

Mohamed Bamba

No player needs a second chance quite like Mohamed Bamba.

The No. 6 overall pick from the 2018 Draft has had a spotty road through his first three seasons. The team knew he was a project and would need time to develop. But an injury late in his rookie season, another injury during his first offseason and then COVID complications before the bubble and into his second offseason have all worked to slow his development.

On top of that, the Orlando Magic suddenly became a playoff-capable team and their patience for a young player still learning how to use his body, how to put on weight and just play NBA-level defense and speed started to wear thin.

Orlando Magic

If the Magic’s goal was solely to develop players, they likely would have been patient through these ups and downs. But the team was trying to make the playoffs and they needed more reliable minutes from their backup center. So Bamba was pushed to the wayside and his development slowed further.

Bamba is averaging 6.4 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game in just 15.3 minutes per game for his career. In that time, he has shown plenty of potential as a shot blocker — he is averaging 3.2 blocks per 36 minutes for his career — and even as an outside shooter. Bamba has had a few games where he played meaningful minutes and delivered huge offensive performances.

But he never really had the consistent playing time or role to make this an everyday occurrence.

The first real chance Mohamed Bamba got was after the trade deadline and after Khem Birch’s departure, solidifying Bamba as the backup center at the very least.

And Bamba put up decent numbers — 11.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.9-percent from the floor and 33.7-percent from beyond the arc. That is just coming from playing time. But it still felt like Bamba needed to do more.

No one could use some fresh eyes and perspective more than Bamba. This is a contract year for him — he can become a restricted free agent at the end of the season — and his future with the team is unclear. Everyone knows it is a contract year for him too — his friend Cole Anthony commented as much on his Instagram story on Saturday.

Bamba has to deliver. And so a new coach who has new ideas and new confidence in him could be just what Bamba needed. It was clear at a certain point that Bamba was not going to gain Clifford’s trust. He needed either a new team or a new coach.

That is why the video of Mosley working with him got Magic fans so excited. And, yes, Bamba is having a little bit of fun with his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live before Saturday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals. But he has shared plenty of his work on social media.

Bamba seems to be doing all the work he needs to do on his end to get himself ready. This may well be the first healthy offseason of his career. And that could have a huge impact on his career.

It is a brand new start for the Magic. And probably no greater chance to restart than for Bamba.