2018 NBA Mock Draft: Way too early edition

Whenever he comes off the board in 2018, Mohamed Bamba will immediately become one of the longest players to ever be drafted into the NBA. The 19-year old measured in at 7-foot with a ridiculous 7-foot-9 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach at the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit. Those physical tools combined with good lateral agility make Bamba one of the most intriguing big man prospects in recent history because of his defensive potential.

The thing that Bamba brings to the table that most elite rim protectors lack is the lateral mobility. The 7-footer can step out on the perimeter and work to contain penetration from smaller players in ways that other big men simply can’t. He’s an agile athlete and his ability to defend in space not only bodes well for chasing blocks, but also for defending on the ball.

The key to Bamba’s prospects are how well he’ll gel with the guards at Texas. The 19-year old doesn’t have a polished offensive game, but his mobility means he should be a solid pick-and-roll threat. Having Andrew Jones back to help run the show will be helpful for Bamba, but the team didn’t show much inclination to attack using the roll man last season as just 3.9 percent of their offensive possessions were finished by those players despite having another NBA level center in Jarrett Allen on the roster.