2018 NBA Draft: 5 best prospects at the center position

Mo Bamba has a 7’9″ wingspan. That in and of itself is something that puts him into a unique classification amongst center prospects. His standing reach rivals that of Rudy Gobert, while his defensive ceiling is in that same stratosphere. Five players have a semi-realistic chance of putting themselves into the conversation for No. 1 overall — and Bamba, in a lottery class filled with centers, is one of them.

He isn’t necessarily as skilled as the other bigs in the top five discussion, but Bamba has upside that, from a physical perspective alone, can’t be matched. If his frame continues to fill out and his instincts continue to improve, he could very well emerge as one of the league’s most impactful defenders in a few years. When you consider the fact that he isn’t entirely lost on offense — like Gobert was when the Jazz drafted him back in 2014 — there’s plenty to like about his profile.

One of the biggest knocks on Bamba has been his motor. He doesn’t always put forth the effort scouts want to see, and that’s something that has hurt plenty of top-tier prospects in the past. He’s an incredibly smart kid though, and somebody who has a serious desire to learn the game and better his craft. How many high schoolers go to the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference to ask about pick-and-roll defense?

Bamba’s defensive ceiling and willingness to learn complement some legit potential offensively as well. While he won’t stack up to the Bagleys and Carters of this year’s class, he has flashed some potential as a shooter in the past. If he’s able to add a reliable mid-range shot to his nimble finishing ability at the rim, there’s no reason why Bamba can’t be a plus on both sides of the ball.