Chicago Bulls 2018 NBA Draft Board: Mohamed Bamba

Welcome to the Chicago Bulls 2018 NBA Draft Board. In this series, I will breakdown and analyze the strengths, weaknesses and perceived fit of draft prospects who the Bulls could potentially select with the No. 7 and No. 22 picks in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Name: Mo Bamba

Position: Center

Date of birth; Age: May 12, 1998; 20-years-old

Height: 7’0.75”

Weight: 226 lbs

Wingspan: 7’10”

School: University of Texas

College stats: 30 games played and 29 games started during the 2017-18 season. Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 0.8 steals and 0.5 assists per game. He shot 54.1 percent from the field, 27.5 percent on 3-pointers and 68.1 percent on free-throws.

Projected draft selection: No. 5-7

Strengths

The first thing that comes to mind when discussing Bamba’s strengths is his potential defensive prowess due to his impressive physical traits. Bamba’s wingspan measured out to be the longest wingspan in the history of the NBA Draft combine. (The records date back to 2000. The late Manute Bol, reportedly, had the longest wingspan in NBA history). And with a 9’7.5” standing reach, Bamba has the second-largest standing reach in combine history. 2004 NBA Draft No. 21 pick Pavel Podkolzin set the record with a 9’8” reach.

Also, according to the Chicago Tribune, the Harlem, New York native ran his 3/4 court sprint in only 3.04 seconds during a private workout with the Chicago Bulls. No big man/center has recorded a time less than 3.10 seconds for their 3/4 sprint in recorded NBA Draft Combine history.

If Bamba participated in the 3/4 sprint during the 2018 NBA Draft Combine and finished the sprint in the same amount of time, he would’ve tied draft prospect and former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket guard Josh Okogie for the quickest 3/4 sprint time of players who declared for this year’s draft.

Remarkably, Bamba’s reported time is faster than several notable guards who are known for their ability to get up the floor in a flash: Oklahoma City guard and 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook (3.08), Miami Heat guard and three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade (3.08), Washington Wizards guard and five-time All-Star John Wall (3.14), Charlotte Hornets guard and two-time All-Star Kemba Walker (3.16) and Indiana Pacers guard and 2018 All-NBA Third Team member Victor Oladipo (3.25).

However, the former Longhorn is a lot more than gaudy measurements. Bamba used his imposing physical attributes to become one of the best interior defenders in the country during his time at Texas. He tallied the second most amount of blocks per game among qualified players.

Bamba dominates defensively

Bamba uses his size, speed, coordination and agility to dominate as a defensive anchor on the interior and hold his own as a perimeter defender. He was one of the best rebounders in the nation during the 2017-18 season. He brought down 28.2 percent of available defensive boards; 14th best in the nation among qualified players.

He’s proven to be a great weak side defender and shot alterer. Bamba swiftly glides through the paint when an opposing player attempts to attack the rim and instantly makes offensive players second guess themselves. Even when it seems he’s too far away or not in the right position to modify a shot, Bamba’s length and size allow him to disrupt field goal attempts nobody else has any business altering.

Big men are depended upon to guard perimeter players in today’s NBA. Bamba proved during his lone collegiate season he’s capable of staying with smaller players after switches for a prolonged period. He’s light on his feet, stays slow in his defensive stance and shuffles his feet laterally well. Bamba’s length gives him a little wiggle room for mistakes and allows him to contain defenders with his arms. He’s quick enough to comfortably contest, and lanky enough to block, a jump shooters field goal attempt after they try to shake Bamba off with dribble moves.

Bamba’s offensive game has potential

Bamba displayed a limited, yet effective offensive skill set during his brief collegiate career. For the most part, he scored his points via lobs, dump downs and put-backs off offensive rebounds (3.2 offensive boards per game). He’s a major rim running threat who can catch virtually any pass thrown in the air. Bamba is a great finisher around the rim and can convert easy buckets near the basket with both hands.

The intrigue surrounding Bamba stems from his potential to be one of the rarest commodities on the basketball court: a legitimate 7-footer who can be an elite interior defender, switch 1-through-five and hold his own the perimeter, be a superior offensive presence near the rim and knock down 3-pointers efficiently; aka, “Rudy Gobert with a jump-shot”. There aren’t many of these kinds of players in the league. In fact, there were only two players in the NBA who knocked down 36 percent or more of their 3-pointers and tallied 1.5 or more blocks per games during the 2017-18 regular season: 2018 NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis. Both players are clearly relied upon to be more than what Bamba is expected to be.

Bamba’s jumper wasn’t as reliable as you’d like to see as a prospect coming into the league. He attempted 1.7 3-pointers per game and knocked down 27.5 percent of them. His free-throw percentage, which has historically been a better indicator of 3-point success in the NBA, wasn’t remarkable either at 68.1 percent.

However, Bamba has proven he more than willing to work on his form to become the threat from beyond the arc the team who drafts him hopes he can be.

"“It’s night and day from when I left Texas to now,” Bamba said. “My mechanics are a lot smoother. My makes are all net and my misses are landing a lot softer. I’ve improved a lot. Shooting the same shot every single time, landing forward, keeping a low pocket. And keeping it smooth, low pocket, shooting lower, not pulling it back.”"

Weaknesses

As mentioned earlier, Bamba’s offensive skill set is a work in progress. He doesn’t have a go to move he can consistently depend on to create a shot for himself in the half-court. His non-lob/dump off down low game wasn’t effective as he was inefficient converting buckets following post-ups. Bamba is smart. He knows this is an area he needs to work on. How much progress he’ll make as a go-to scorer isn’t a certainty.

If Bamba isn’t going to be a center you can throw the ball to in the posts or consistently knock down jumpers, then he’ll need to learn to set better screens. Far too often at Texas he wouldn’t defenses at a disadvantage when he set a pick. He needs to make more contact when he sets a screen and hold his position longer. It’ll free up the ball-handler or cutter he’s setting a screen for and open the lane more for himself, resulting in easier lob attempts.

Bamba has defensive flaws too

Even though he’s proven to be incredible defensively, Bamba still has his flaws on the less glamorous end of the floor. He falls for pump fakes or gets beat by a simple spin move easily, which takes him out of position to alter shots at the rim. He’ll need to do a better job of anticipating instead of reacting so the craftier big men in the NBA don’t fake him out too often and make his abilities as a rim protector less effective.

Bamba, like most college prospects entering the NBA, will need to add muscle on his skinnier frame. Opponents nudge him out of position on both ends of the floor with ease. Bamba is aware of this and has made it an effort to bulk up through an intense workout regiment and an insane diet.

The biggest question Bamba will face as the draft nears is how hard he’s willing to work. He has a tendency to disappear and not look like he’s giving his full effort every time he’s on the court. While the criticism may not be fair, Bamba will look to silent those who question his love for the game of basketball.

"“I may not agree, but it’s definitely something that someone’s saying about me and I definitely want to look at it, internalize it and get better at it,” Bamba said. “This is what I want to do. I owe this thing my life. This is what I want to do for the next 20 years of my life.”"

Fit

Bamba’s insightful nature is correct on how he’d fit with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls ranked dead last in blocks per game during the 2017-18 season. Bamba recorded more blocks per contest (3.7) in 30.2 minutes of play per night than the entire Chicago Bulls team (3.5) did on a per game basis. The Bulls also ranked fifth from last in opponents field goal percentage at the rim, 65.5 percent.

The Chicago Bulls desperately need someone who’s going to be an interior defensive force. Bamba could shore up a lot of their issues in that department.

"“One difference between me and any other prospect in this class is if I’m plugged into the NBA right now — I don’t really want to be cocky when I say this — but I really feel as if I can be one of the best rim protectors in the league,” Bamba said. “And this is as a rookie. This is something I really tried to master early on in my career, and it’s only going to get better.”"

Offensively, Bamba wouldn’t take anything away from the court the Chicago Bulls already have. He doesn’t require a lot of touches and appears to be low maintenance when it comes to offensive involvement. Guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn are going to want to play with the ball in their hands. Forward Lauri Markkanen needs to get his shots up as well. Bamba can be the defensive anchor and plug-in smaller holes offensively when he’s needed to. And if he’s able to showcase a consistent jumper, then, watch out.

"“I think Lauri and I, we’re in a sense … the frontcourt of the future,” Bamba said. “I mean, he can step out and really shoot it really well. That gives me a lot of room to operate down low and start to develop.”"

If you aren’t going to draft a player who you expect to become a star, then drafting a player who makes sense with the current construct of your roster is usually the best route to go. It would make a lot of sense for the Chicago Bulls to want to draft Mo Bamba.