The Los Angeles Lakers have waived center Mo Bamba, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The move happened while Bamba was working out at the Lakers’ practice facility, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Bamba had a non-guaranteed contract for next season. The Lakers had until June 29 to make a decision on whether to guarantee Bamba’s $10.3 million salary.
Los Angeles acquired Bamba from the Orlando Magic at the February trade deadline for guard Patrick Beverley. The big man only appeared in nine regular-season games with the Lakers due to an ankle injury. He averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 40.7% from the field, 31.3% from beyond the arc and 54.5% from the free-throw line.
The Magic drafted Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Texas. The New York native has career averages of 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Magic and Lakers. He didn’t have a role with Los Angeles in the 2023 playoffs, playing only 10 total minutes.
The Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP LeBron James told reporters he may retire this summer, although the Lakers continue to operate as if James will be back next season, according to Buha. LeBron signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last offseason. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season.
Los Angeles is trying to clear cap space so it can sign combo guard Bruce Brown, who declined his 2023-24 player option with the Nuggets. The Lakers are “increasingly confident” they can sign the NBA champion, per Buha.
Brown averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Nuggets in 2022-23 while shooting 48.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.8% from the free-throw line. In the 2023 playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Lakers and Miami Heat, Brown put up 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
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