The Los Angeles Lakers' search for a new starting center was halted this summer after the franchise acquired former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and consistent double-double threat Deandre Ayton on a two-year, $16.2 million contract in free agency.
Still, their depth at the center position has remained somewhat of a concern. Former New Orleans Pelicans big man and uber-athletic lob threat Jaxson Hayes will serve as the team's backup center, but things begin to fly off the rails on the Lakers' depth chart after the 25-year-old big man.
Interestingly enough, a former Lakers big man and top draft prospect who played just nine games with the franchise in 2022-23 has hit the open market again after his latest venture with the Utah Jazz failed to result in a full-time union.
"The Utah Jazz waived center Mo Bamba," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto shared via X on Friday evening.
"The former sixth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft has averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in seven NBA seasons combined with the Magic, 76ers, Clippers, Lakers, and Pelicans."
Following his short stint with the Jazz, Bamba's NBA future appears to be in a perilous position.
After being selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft (five spots after Ayton) by the Orlando Magic, the athletic 7-footer has struggled to find a permanent home in the league despite flashing consistent shot-blocking ability and even a semblance of three-point shooting promise.
Unfortunately for the two-way big man, it was evident that he could not fit within the Lakers' rotation due to his 3.7-point and 4.6-rebound figures on a horrid 50.0% effective field goal percentage with the team after arriving via trade from the Magic in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.
In 7 NBA seasons and 364 career regular season outings, Bamba's career averages of 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks along with a solid 35.6% shooting clip from distance indicates that he could be deserving of another shot, and it may be in Los Angeles' best interests to entertain a reunion as the team yearns for extra bodies to fill out their frontcourt room.
At his peak during the 2021-22 season with the Magic, Bamba compiled 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while knocking down 38.1% of his three-point attempts and sporting a 58.2% true shooting percentage.
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