Mohamed Bamba: The ultimate boom or bust prospect

Strengths

Defensive Dynamo

If not for Jaren Jackson Jr., Mo Bamba likely would have a case for best defender in this draft, at least at the college level. He uses his impossibly long wingspan and ridiculous athleticism to swat shots from everywhere in the paint and unlike most all-tools bigs like him, he’s shown real feel and ability on the defensive end.

He was one of the best shot blockers in the nation and registered a staggering 3.6 blocks per game for Texas this year, while also committing just 2.5 fouls per game. That kind of ratio paints the picture of a center who’s not only mastering rim protection but is doing so while playing smart, clean defense.

Watch in the clip below how sticks with fellow NBA prospect, Charles Matthews, just long enough to get a huge swat:

Those kinds of possessions should make NBA teams salivate over his potential. If Bamba can consistently become a weapon for whatever team takes him in the pick-and-roll defensively, his potential is sky-high.

Offensive Potential

What makes Mohamed Bamba such an interesting prospect is his potential development offensively. He’s not polished by any means but he’s flashed an interesting post-game which could be a weapon down the road and perhaps more enticingly, a shot from the perimeter which could make him a completely unprecedented NBA player.

To be sure, he shot just 27.5% from downtown this year and 68.1% from the free throw line, but he still showed at least some level of ability from the perimeter. But how he steps right into a three before confidently knocking it down:

This didn’t happen quite nearly enough this year and if we’re being honest, his penchant for taking (and missing) three’s grew frustrating as the season progressed. But if this can ever become a real tool for him down the line, he has a chance to become a true unicorn.

Weaknesses

Low Floor

Even though he has obvious potential and could be one of the most dominant bigs in the league, the problem is he doesn’t have much to fall back on. He’s a fine finisher around the basket and has some real skill on defense, but he’s still too raw on both sides to say that he can really rely that down the line.

And it’s not like we haven’t seen this story before in the NBA. From Hasheem Thabeet in 2009 (coincidentally to the Grizzlies to whom Bamba might fall this draft) to Kwame Brown in 2001 to Michael Olowokandi in 1998, the track record of freakishly athletic raw bigs entering the NBA is dicey.

Think of Bamba as a “fixer-upper” house; he has attractive qualities like high ceilings and great natural light, sure, but the foundation upon which he’s built is sinking and if there are not serious fundamental changes, the whole thing could come tumbling down.