Lakers News: Waived Center Interested in Returning To LA

He could make some sense for depth purposes.

Recently waived Los Angeles Lakers center Mo Bamba has some interest in possibly returning to the team. LA waived him before free agency started to save the $10 million that would have been owed to him this upcoming season. It allowed the team to open up the entire non-taxpayer mid level exception which helped them land former Miami Heat point guard Gabe Vincent. But the team is thin at the center position so Bamba could make some sense.

Lakers insider Jovan Buha for The Athletic has the scoop below.

Report: “(Mo) Bamba has interest in staying with the Lakers and could be an option.”

(via @jovanbuha, https://t.co/NqFj1FoQWI) pic.twitter.com/OR7hO78nei

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 1, 2023

The Lakers did sign former New Orleans Pelicans center Jackson Hayes to a two-year deal as well but with Hayes and Anthony Davis being the only two big men on the roster, bringing Bamba back as more depth would be wise.

The biggest question is whether or not Bamba would be okay signing for the veteran minimum as that is really all the Lakers could offer to him. The team didn't use every piece of the MLE so maybe they can give Bamba a slight raise from the veteran minimum if they two sides could agree to something. 

Bamba could use this year to rebrand his image and then enter free agency next season, ready for a new deal. 

His ability to shoot the ball was a big reason why LA traded for him in the first place and putting him next to Davis could be a lethal duo for opposing teams. But his time in LA was limited to injuries so we never really got to see what he could do.

Maybe he will be back with the Lakers, maybe not. But Bamba can still provide some level of value to a team and him being interested in coming back is a good thing.

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