The Philadelphia 76ers have filled out the margins on their roster as the team wait to move disgruntled guard James Harden.
That included signing former All-Defensive Team performer Patrick Beverley earlier in free agency.
Front office head Daryl Morey is now focusing on depth behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid in the low-post during NBA free agency.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Philadelphia has signed former Orlando Magic lottery pick Mo Bamba away from the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s said to be a one-year deal at the veteran minimum.
Bamba, 25, was the No. 6 pick of the Magic in the 2018 NBA Draft. He played parts of five seasons in Orlando before being dealt to the Lakers during February’s NBA trade deadline.
The Texas product played only nine regular-season games in Los Angeles and was not in head coach Darvin Ham’s rotation during the playoffs. However, he offers some solid depth behind Embiid at center in Philadelphia.
Related: NBA execs doubt Joel Embiid would actually ask the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade
Mo Bamba stats (2022-23): 6.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 49% shooting
Bamba put up a career-best performance for Orlando back in 2021-22. In 71 games (69 starts), he averaged 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds on 48% shooting. The big man also brings a decent three-point game (36% in his career) to the mix.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, acquiring two veterans in Beverley and Bamba creates a nice amount of depth. However, it’s going to be all about what the 76ers receive in a pending James Harden trade after he opted into his contract and requested a trade.
Philadelphia was ousted by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this past season after blowing a 3-2 series lead. It led to the firing of Doc Rivers and the eventual hiring of Nick Nurse to replace him.