Orlando Magic: 5 goals for Mohamed Bamba’s rookie season

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Mohamed Bamba #5 of the the Orlando Magic poses for a photo during the 2018 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Mohamed Bamba #5 of the the Orlando Magic poses for a photo during the 2018 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Don’t go to the G League

This may seem like an obvious one, but it is not as straightforward as you might think. The way the G League is used now, movement of players between the NBA and their affiliates is more commonplace.

With that being said, if Bamba ends up here, it means a couple of things have happened. One is that he is coming back from injury and is sent to the Lakeland Magic to get reps. This is something Isaac did last season.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

While there is no shame in that at all, it does mean Bamba will have been injured and missed a good chunk of time — not something Orlando wants. Even worse though, would be if Bamba fell out of the rotation and was sent there to stay sharp.

You would think there is no way this could happen, but certain players just fall into situations that don’t totally suit them. Malik Monk of the Charlotte Hornets is a recent example. Drafted last season with the 11th pick, he was seen by many experts as a sharpshooter who could play immediately.

He was sent to the G League after a sputtering start, and even though the Hornets had a bland season, he was never given the chance to truly show what he could do. If it can happen to Monk, then it can happen to Bamba.

One look at the Magic’s roster as it is currently constructed and the path to plenty of minutes for Bamba is not clear. Nikola Vucevic is still on the books, while Khem Birch had a nice run with the team last season (he also spent time in the G League).

Bismack Biyombo may be gone, but for now Timofey Mozgov is a part of the roster, even if he doesn’t figure to play often (or at all). Even Isaac is a rival for minutes if Orlando goes with lineups that see him play at the traditional center position.

Avoiding the G League looks like an easy goal to tick off the list, but there’s still reason to be cautious with this one. What Magic rookie of the last six seasons can you remember exceeding or even meeting expectations early on?