2018 NBA Mock Draft: Who’s moving at the top?
Texas. Mohamed Bamba. 6. player. 38. . C
A report this week from Sean Deveney linked Bamba to the Celtics, showing just how coveted the big man has become despite a frustrating freshman season at Texas. The Magic covet versatility, and drafting Bamba would make their team even more flexible and unpredictable in the frontcourt.
According to Deveney, the Celtics interviewed Bamba at the combine, and he certainly represents the big man version of the type of player they love. With the draft combine’s longest-ever wingspan and heaps of athleticism, Bamba makes sense as an eventual replacement for Al Horford in Boston. Yet pulling off such a deal remains difficult.
If they were unwilling to part with their core young players or top draft assets in deals to acquire Jimmy Butler or Paul George, it’s difficult to imagine the Celtics tossing out their best trade chips just to get into the lottery to draft Bamba. However, if he were to slip or a team was desperate for future flexibility, maybe the Celtics dissolve their overcrowded backcourt on draft night in order to make the trade work.
That said, Orlando is not a team one would imagine speaking with Boston about a deal like that. They need young talent, and Bamba has the potential to be a home run.