Mo Bamba

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The Los Angeles Lakers requested waivers on center Mo Bamba and guard Shaquille Harrison, it was announced today.

Bamba appeared in nine games (one start) for the Lakers last season, averaging 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. The 25-year-old appeared in three postseason games for Los Angeles, averaging 1.0 rebounds in 3.3 minutes. Bamba was acquired by Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Harrison played in eight postseason games for Los Angeles last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 assists in 3.5 minutes per game. The 29-year-old was signed by the Lakers on April 9.

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Lakers Waive Mo Bamba and Shaquille Harrison

Mike Trudell

2022-23 Season Summary:Acquired by the Lakers from Orlando in a trade deadline deal, Mo Bamba’s impact in Los Angeles was limited by an ankle injury that kept him to only nine appearances in Purple and Gold, plus 11 total minutes in the playoffs. The 7’0’’ center did flash some of the skills that made him appealing as a trade target, with his somewhat rare combination of rim protection (1.3 career blocks per game) and 3-point shooting (38.7% for the season). Bamba played more than 20 minutes only twice, but was impactful each time, scoring 10 points with 13 boards vs. Golden State (Feb. 23) plus 12 points with 7 boards at OKC (March 1) before the high ankle sprain on March 5.

By The Numbers:98:&nbsp;Total minutes played for the Lakers.&nbsp;

19.2:&nbsp;Bamba’s rebound percentage – the percentage of boards he grabbed while on the court – besting Anthony Davis’s 17.7, if in a very limited sample size.&nbsp;

4: Bamba’s season high in 3-pointers made, on 11/18 while still in Orlando; his Lakers high of 3 came on March 1.

Moving Forward:At age 25, the former No. 6 overall pick by Orlando in 2018 took a bit of a step back in 2022-23, as he’d started 69 of 71 games the prior season, but just seven of his 49 games this year, losing 10 minutes of playing time per game. Bamba did manage to slightly increase his shooting efficiency both overall (48.5% up from 48.0%) and from three (38.7% up from 38.1%), with his rebounding and blocked shots decreased a tad per 36 minutes relative to the year prior. The New York City native is better off the ball than on it as a defender, and primarily picked and popped on offense. Bamba’s talent remains plenty enticing; can he bring a more consistent level of improvement and production to the table after a strong offseason? If so, there are many teams – the Lakers included – that can use a rim-protecting big that can space the floor on the other end.

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End of Season Interviews - Mo Bamba (5-23-23)

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Mo Bamba 2022-23 Season Highlights

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Mo Bamba 2023 Lakers Player Capsule

lalpsnowden

Mo Bamba spoke to the media following the Lakers 2022-23 season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired via trade center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic, forward Davon Reed from the Denver Nuggets and two second-round picks from the L.A. Clippers, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka. In the trade, the Lakers sent center Thomas Bryant to the Nuggets and sent guard Patrick Beverley and cash considerations to the Magic.

Bamba (7’0”, 230) has appeared in 40 games (six starts) for Orlando this season, averaging 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks in 17.0 minutes per game, shooting a career-high 39.8 percent from 3-point range. In 266 career games (81 starts) across five seasons with the Magic (2018-23), Bamba has averaged 7.7 points (.477 FG%, .360 3P%), 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game.

Reed (6’5”, 208) has appeared in 35 games (one start) for Denver this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game. In 114 career games (seven starts) across four seasons with the Nuggets (2021-23), Pacers (2018-19) and Suns (2017-18), Reed has averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes, while shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range.

In 45 games (all starts) for the Lakers this season, Beverley averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. Bryant appeared in 41 games (25 starts) for Los Angeles this season, averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game.

Mo Bamba

Lakers Waive Mo Bamba and Shaquille Harrison

Mo Bamba 2023 Lakers Player Capsule

Mo Bamba 2022-23 Season Highlights

End of Season Interviews - Mo Bamba (5-23-23)

Lakers Acquire Mo Bamba and Davon Reed