NBA Trade Idea: Lakers Acquire Mo Bamba From Magic?

The Los Angeles Lakers could be making another trade before next week's deadline. Could it be for Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba?

Jeremy Brener | Jan 30, 2023

NBA Trade Idea: Lakers Acquire Mo Bamba From Magic? /

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - With just over a week before the NBA Trade Deadline, teams are scrambling to improve their teams as much as possible.

The Los Angeles Lakers, who kicked off the trade season a week ago by acquiring Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards, could be looking for more to catapult the team out of the lottery.

Fastbreak drew up a trade between the Lakers and Orlando Magic that sends Mo Bamba to Tinseltown for Patrick Beverley and two second-round picks.

"Falling out of the rotation in Orlando with the likes of Bol Bol, Moritz Wagner and now Jonathan Isaac seeing the floor more frequently, Mo Bamba is absolutely a key “buy-low” trade target for teams like the Lakers and there is a path to Rob Pelinka and Los Angeles’ front-office getting him from the Magic," Fastbreak writes. "Since Bamba is making $10.3 million this season, the Lakers could use Patrick Beverley’s $13 million expiring deal as a matching outgoing salary in a trade scenario here while also attaching two future second-round picks in 2023 and 2024."

The Magic is reportedly welcoming trades for a few veterans on the roster, including Bamba, who doesn't have any money on the payroll guaranteed for next season.

Bamba is averaging 7.2 points per game this season, but shoots 39 percent from beyond the three-point line, which is an intriguing number that should have several teams, including the Lakers, calling the Magic with an offer for his services in the final stretch towards the playoffs.

The NBA Trade Deadline is set for next Thursday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m.

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Published Jan 30, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.