3. Mo Bamba
The 76ers gave Bamba a one-year $2.0 million contract to compete for backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP will play 35 minutes per night but has never appeared in more than 68 games in a season. Bamba will get opportunities, but can he seize them?
The sixth overall pick in 2018 has been extremely inconsistent during his first five NBA seasons. He appeared to have a breakout with the Magic in 2022 but regressed significantly last season. Bamba was traded to the Lakers at the deadline, but struggled to get on the floor and was banished from their postseason rotation.
The Sixers have Paul Reed to back up Embiid, but Bamba will leave fans wanting more. He has a tantalizing skill set and shows flashes, but cannot put it all together. Expect more of the same from the 25-year-old in Philadelphia. He will likely be outside their playoff rotation and looking for a new home in the summer of 2024.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be wishing they made a more impactful signing come January. Joel Embiid will miss a few games, and the franchise will struggle without their superstar. Mo Bamba will be an inconsistent fill-in, who will get played off the floor in certain matchups.