Amid the hustle and bustle of the free market, the Los Angeles Clippers have added another big hit, announcing a one-year contract with former Lakers center Mohamed Bamba. This signing not only adds depth to the team's interior line, but also injects new vitality into the Clippers' journey to the championship in the new season.
According to ESPN's well-known reporter Woj, the Clippers signed Bamba this time to fill the void left by Plumlee's departure to join the Suns, and at the same time further strengthen Zubac's interior strength. Bamba's arrival will undoubtedly bring more changes and possibilities to the Clippers' tactical system.
Drafted with the sixth pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Bamba is a staggering 2.13 meters tall and has excellent physical condition and dominance under the basket. Although his career has not fully lived up to expectations, Bamba has shown potential and quality over the course of several seasons.
During his four-and-a-half-season with the Magic, Bamba grew into an important rotation player on the team's interior. However, his NBA journey didn't stop there. He then briefly donned the Lakers' jersey, and although he only played in nine games, the experience undoubtedly gave him a deeper understanding of the pace and intensity of high-level play.
Last season, Bamba found a new home with the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in his limited playing time. These stats aren't spectacular, but they're enough to prove his worth on the defensive end and rebounding protection.
Looking back on Bamba's career, the 2021-22 season was undoubtedly his most highlight. That season, he averaged 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and became an indispensable pillar of the team's interior line. While that performance hasn't fully fulfilled his talent as a high-pick rookie, Bamba's every improvement has shown him a glimpse of what's possible.
Now, Bamba joins the Clippers with a desire to win and anticipation of a new challenge. Under Coach Tyronn Lue's system, he is expected to form a good complementary relationship with interior partners such as Zubac and jointly contribute to the Clippers' interior defense and rebounding protection. At the same time, the addition of Bamba will also add new options to the Clippers' offensive end, and his height advantage and shooting ability are expected to open up the team in crunch time.