The Orlando Magic traded fifth-year large man Mo Bamba to the Los Angeles Lakers forward of the NBA’s 3 p.m. commerce deadline, a number of sources advised the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday afternoon.
The Magic acquired veteran guard Patrick Beverley, a future second-round choose and money concerns for Bamba, which was a four-team deal together with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets.
The particulars of the deal, which first reported by the Sentinel:
- Magic acquired: a 2024 second-round choose (by way of Denver), money and Beverley;
- Lakers acquired: Bamba, Davon Reed and the Clippers’ 2024 and 2025 second-round picks;
- Nuggets acquired: Thomas Bryant;
- Clippers acquired: Bones Hyland.
Orlando formally introduced the commerce half-hour forward of Thursday’s residence recreation vs. the Nuggets.
It’s unlikely Beverley will play for the Magic, sources advised the Sentinel. The Magic stated in an announcement later within the day that they gained’t require Beverley to report back to Orlando.
Beverley has a $13 million wage for this season as a part of the 1-year extension he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves final February earlier than being traded to the Utah Jazz after which the Lakers throughout the offseason.
The Sentinel reported that Bamba was among the many gamers more than likely to be concerned in a deal if the Magic made one forward of the deadline.
That got here to fruition.
Bamba, who the Magic drafted with the No. 6 choose within the 2018 draft, was the workforce’s third-longest tenured participant behind Terrence Ross and Jonathan Isaac.
He completed his Magic profession with averages of seven.7 factors (49.5% taking pictures — 56% on 2s, 36% on 3s), 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.3 minutes (266 video games — 81 begins).
Bamba’s finest season with the Magic got here as a full-time starter within the final season of his 4-year, $24.1 million rookie scale contract.
He averaged career-highs in factors (10.6), rebounds (8.1), blocks (1.7), assists (1.2) and minutes (25.7) in 2021-22 earlier than re-signing with the Magic on a 2-year, $20.6 million partially assured contract final summer time. His $10.3 million wage for this season is absolutely assured.
After being a starter, Bamba performed a distinct function with the Magic.
He was the principle backup behind beginning large Wendell Carter Jr. to kick off this season, taking part in in 19 of the primary 20 video games (18.7 minutes), together with 5 begins whereas Carter was injured. Bamba missed 5 video games due to again ache/spasms.
When Bamba returned, he was again to being the backup large behind Moe Wagner, who took over the beginning function whereas Carter was out. And as soon as Carter was not taking part in underneath a minutes restriction, Bamba’s function fluctuated.
He was a wholesome scratch in 10 of the Magic’s 16 video games earlier than the league suspended him for 4 video games due to his function in final week’s on-court scuffle with the Timberwolves.
“It’s hard to say,” Bamba responded to the Sentinel when lately requested how he’d consider his season. “I haven’t really gotten consistent minutes. Start of the year, we were trying to figure how the bench unit would look. But it was always tough because guys were out.”
Bamba’s new function proved to be a major adjustment.
“It’s tough. It’s easier said than done,” he stated. “Everybody’s always like, ‘Stay ready’ and you’re supposed to stay ready because it’s part of being a professional. But it’s harder than what it looks like.”
He averaged 7.3 factors (49.5% from the sphere — 59.4% on 2s, 39.8% on 3s), 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1 block in 17 minutes (40 video games — six begins).
Bamba, 24, confirmed enhancements even in a extra restricted function in comparison with final season.
His 3-point proportion could be career-high, serving to present final 12 months’s 38.1% accuracy wasn’t a fluke. Bamba’s been one of many higher taking pictures large males during the last two seasons. He’s gotten higher with ending across the rim and because the curler on pick-and-rolls.
Bamba additionally has gotten higher at contesting pictures when not blocking them whereas sustaining a excessive block proportion.
He can enhance as a person rebounder however has proven important development since getting extra constant taking part in time final season.
Bamba may have a possibility to play constant minutes once more with the Lakers, who’re in want of taking pictures and big-man depth after buying and selling Bryant to the Nuggets.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com