Dallas Mavericks: Chance at Mo Bamba is too great to pass up

Despite the Dallas Mavericks receiving trade offers for the No. 5 overall pick, draft prospect Mo Bamba is too intriguing to pass up if he’s available.

Reports have been circulating that the Boston Celtics offered up guard Jaylen Brown for the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, per Sporting News‘ Sean Deveney. Brown had an impressive sophomore season, averaging a team-leading 18.0 points per game in the postseason as the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

Despite the improvements Brown made in his second year, he isn’t worth the pick, or more specifically, the player Dallas can draft at that spot: Mohamed Bamba. Bamba is a game-changer on the defensive end of the floor, and more importantly, addresses a huge need on the roster.

Mo Bamba is known for his unprecedented 7’10” wingspan, which helped him average 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game at Texas. Dallas ranked 12th in the NBA in terms of opponents points per game (105.4), but lacked an elite rim protector and was second-to-last in blocks. Bamba boasts a defensive rating of 89.6 points per 100 possessions, and would certainly help Dallas defensively.

Bamba doesn’t rely solely on his defensive ability, however, and is continuing to expand his game. While on ESPN’s The Jump, he discussed improving his offense and jump shot in anticipation of the draft:

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported another impressive feat by Bamba following a Friday workout with the Chicago Bulls. The former Texas Longhorn finished the three-quarter court sprint in 3.04 seconds, beating out most of the NBA’s fastest guards.

His speed alongside the Mavericks’ No. 9 overall selection from the 2017 NBA draft, Dennis Smith Jr., would help improve their pace of play and provide a formidable pick-and-roll game.

At the very least, his role will draw comparisons to that of the Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela as a strong inside presence that won’t suffer due to league’s increasing pace. With his work on his shooting form and mechanics, he may also end up stretching the floor better than expected.

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By trading their fifth overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks would lose out on a franchise-changing player. His defense and speed would prove invaluable and he would provide stability in the frontcourt. With Dirk Nowitzki turning 40 and Nerlens Noel showing maturity issues, keeping Mo Bamba in-state shouldn’t be a question if he’s still available at No. 5.