Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 3 trades for a second center involving Wes Matthews

By Jonathan Kiernan

Dec 18, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews (9) against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews (9) against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers land a former top pick in Mohamed Bamba

Bamba has been in a difficult situation in Orlando.

With Nikola Vucevic on the roster, the youngster was never going to get the starting job and it seems that the Magic value Khem Birch over Bamba in the rotation this season.

The Lakers could make a play for Bamba and see if he can offer the purple and gold a solid rotational piece with upside.

General Manager Rob Pelinka made it very clear that he is seeking players who are young, talented, and can run with AD for years to come.

With the addition of Harrell and Schröder, the extensions of Kyle Kuzma and KCP, and the unearthing of Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso, Pelinka has very much kept his word in finding the young talent.

With Bamba being 22 (Going 23) in May, that fits perfectly into the Laker’s plans both short and long term.

Bamba gives the purple and gold a rim protector who is only going to get better and better. Having LeBron James and Anthony Davis as teammates will give Mo some of the best mentors he could possibly imagine.

Bamba would slide into the rotation perfectly and would give the Lakers a two-man center option for next season as it is widely understood that Marc Gasol might retire at the end of the season.

Bamba and Harrell give the purple and gold a really solid center rotation for the future.

For the Orlando Magic, this trade alleviates a potential headache for the front office.

Mo Bamba is 3rd on the depth chart at the center position, and with no sign of Vucevic falling off, it is difficult to see Orlando paying Bamba a sizeable contract to stay.

Coming towards the end of his rookie deal, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the former 6th overall pick might want a trade elsewhere in order to maximize his value moving forward.

With Markelle Fultz out for the season adding Matthews to the rotation allows for them to lighten the load a bit more on the guard rotation and allows for them to be deeper at the shooting guard position.

Home/Lakers News