It appears the Magic will let Mo Bamba become an unrestricted free agent, writes Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel.
A source tells Price that the team isn’t expected to submit a qualifying offer to Bamba before today’s deadline. That would make the fourth-year center unrestricted and take away the Magic’s opportunity to match any offer he receives in free agency.
Bamba’s qualifying offer would be $10.1MM and it would provide him with the option of signing it and returning to the Magic next season. He has been with Orlando since being selected with the sixth pick in the 2018 draft.
The team remains interested in keeping Bamba when free agency begins, Price adds, but presumably at a lower figure. A sign-and-trade deal also remains a possibility.
Several teams are expected to pursue Bamba on the free agent market, with a source telling Price that the Raptors, Knicks, Lakers, Bulls, Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves have all shown interest.
Bamba is coming off his best NBA season, posting career highs with 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 assists per game. He became a full-time starter for the first time in his career, starting 69 of the 71 games that he played.
He’d look real good coming off pick and pops with Luka and Dinwiddie
I agree with that, i think he can thrive in the Mavs and is kind of an upgrade over Powell.
But they have wood now so unless mo willing to take a bench role and not start for some teams I can see it
I think they just shift Wood to PF if they get Bamba.
He would.
He told you that personally?
The guy just became a starter for the first time last season. Had a good year. No way he wants to go to a place where he won’t start.
You think he is going to have a choice in that? How many teams would you think he would start for? He still has a lot of holes in his game.
Rockets start, lakers start . Clippers start. Hornets, blazers maybe, pistons . Do I go on??
Sure, yeah keep going. This time include some teams that want him or can afford him. That’s the point.
Lots of teams would want Bamba coming off the bench. You’re just looking at rosters with no thought to salary cap or need.
You never said anything about cap . The question was how many teams can he start for so I gave you a list . So I gave you the right answer .
That didn’t need to be said, obviously.
If a team doesn’t want to or can’t sign him because of finances, he isn’t going to start for them.
I don’t think he is much of an upgrade over Zubac for the clippers but he better than quite a few center options out there
What wouldve been the qualifying offer? And who would be interested in Bamba? At what price?
Did you read the article? Lol
So mo to the lakers got it
I think all the other teams can beat the lakers tax payer mid level exception, but he would be the starting center in LA by a mile, interesting, he’s gonna get sign and traded to the bulls for a deal involving Coby White probably though
Dang mane I could use some mo bamba
The Bulls should pass on LaVine and sign Bamba.
Ball
DeRozan
Williams
Vucevic
Bamba
and you’d have
White
Caruso
Terry
Bradley
Bulls clearly need depth on the wing and in the middle, cant see how you sign LaVine long term unless there is a sign and trade in place.
@bwmiller
The Bulls can sign Levine without any problems. They hold his rights. What’s the outspoken?
yeah but if you cant work a sign and trade out for lavine before you sign him, you lose leverage down the road in a trade – or – you committ to LaVine for five years
My point is I think the Bulls are better off not committing to LaVine for five years
Bulls are likely giving LaVine the full max the second free agency opens and he’ll likely accept it. After that, Bamba is the perfect addition at the 5. Solid interior defense with plus shot blocking and he can actually shoot a decent 3 as well. Pick him up, add a 3&D wing and hope Ball can get healthy.
He’ll probably get the full MLE.
Eh but now he can bounce for nothing. He may not be worth $10 million but if he negotiations $6-8 million a year for 3 or 4 years with someone Magic can’t match. Unless they really don’t want him or they truly fear he’ll sign the QO.
Raptors are a perfect fit
Seems like he’s just coming into his own. Is it his asking price? Can Orlando really let talent walk out the door? He could help Panchro ease into life among the big fellas.
Mavs would be a really good spot for him.
Luka Brunson (maybe) Dinwiddie Hardy Hardaway Bullock Kleber Finney-Smith Bertans Wood Bamba Powell
They can waive Ntilikina which saves them 2mil.
They have the taxpayers MLE of about 6.5mil which they can use to sign him.
Brunson looks likely to head to the Knicks so that’ll keep the tax bill down also. However they should probably try dumping Bertans.
Maybe Bertans, and a pair of seconds for Doug McDermott.
1. Luka. Dinwiddie
2. Hardaway. Hardy. Green
3. Bullock. McDermott
4. Finney-Smith. Kleber
5. Wood. Bamba. Powell
Bamba had his best year (kind of), but will be let go.
Another secret kept by Weltman.
How does the secrecy benefit the Magic?
Anyway… Raptors. I assume they have their MLE. Boucher & Young FAs, and a $114mil roster per Bas.Ref.
His numbers are somewhat similar to Mitchell Robinson, but less than $10M per vs Mitch looking at $15M per. Wouldn’t the Knicks be better served just signing Mo as opposed to Mitch? And it would be interesting to perhaps pursue him anyway as a backup to Mitch and go a full 48 of the same service/play. A solid Noel replacement.