2018 NBA Mock Draft: What if Memphis wins the lottery?

In an interview on ESPN this week, Bamba told Rachel Nichols, “I watched the Knicks when they were at their worst, and I would always root for them because it’s always been in my heart. It would be awesome, you know. I live three train stops from there.” Bamba also joked that he didn’t realize the Knicks had a chance to get him at No. 1 overall, having low odds in the lottery and with Bamba (in his own mind) clearly the top choice.

It makes sense for the Knicks to be interested in Bamba from more than a geographical perspective as well. Adding Bamba would allow New York to play Kristaps Porzingis next to another, more defensively versatile big man, while also providing them another chance to develop a unicorn big man (though Bamba is further away from that potential).

Coach David Fizdale was part of two big man transformations during his career — Chris Bosh in Miami, and Marc Gasol the past two seasons in Memphis. He has the creativity and trust of his players to revamp their style and show them it can work. Bamba needs to play differently, working for his own shot more often and switching on defense consistently, to maximize his skills in the NBA.

With questions about his motor and determination to improve already being whispered, it’s tough to say definitively that Bamba is a great fit anywhere. New York probably makes the most sense at this point.