Mo Bamba, one of last season’s big men for the LA Clippers and a brief starter, just signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors. He showed the right characteristics in the G League. With Jakob Poeltl injured, Toronto’s front office was fed up with insufficient size and added Bamba, not knowing how different he is in reality than on paper.
Mo Bamba has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports and Greer Love tell ESPN. Bamba averaged 16.5 points and 12 rebounds in G League Salt Lake City and now brings needed size to Raptors frontcourt for his eighth NBA season. pic.twitter.com/git5ZYAlna
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025
Following the Raptors’ one-point win versus the Orlando Magic, rookie Collin Murray-Boyles mentioned in his post-game media session that Bamba will help in needed ways on both sides of the ball, eliminating Darko Rajaković’s need to play small.
Collin Murray-Boyles on the addition of Mo Bamba, and how much he can help the team:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) December 30, 2025
“Tremendously. Everybody knows that we needed that. We’ve been running a lot of small ball 5, especially with Jak being out.”
“Definitely having someone else to protect the paint, get more… pic.twitter.com/VJ9N5qJ5Sy
However, if the former lottery pick was a two-way center with the ability to rebound and block shots, why did he not last with the Clippers?
Additionally, why did the Utah Jazz waive him right after he was traded from LA, then waive him a second time mid-October? There is clearly a hidden truth with Bamba that the Raptors will make known.
Mo Bamba's cons outweigh his pros, making him a liability on the court
Based on height, wingspan, blocked shots, and three-point attempts, Mo Bamba appears one-of-one. His measurements and metrics in these categories are excellent, and this is clearly the entire picture that was viewed by the front office of the Toronto Raptors.
Conversely, Bamba is the kind of center who is seven feet tall but records efficiency numbers that do not match his height. He has never, not even once, shot 50% from the field for the five teams he previously played for, and notably on the LA Clippers, he was at 46.6%.
Bamba has the confidence to shoot three-pointers, which separates him from others, but with his size, if he plans on shooting from a distance, he must make a high percentage of his attempts.
Though he may be an above average rim-protector, there is a massive difference between blocking shots well and having a presence on defense. This includes defending the help side, excelling in switches on quicker opponents, and anticipating where the ball is going.
Thus, when the Clippers traded him and the Utah Jazz waived him on separate occasions, the reasoning was obvious.
That said, the Toronto Raptors will realize that Bamba is in no position to competently assist the front-court, especially while Jakob Poeltl is injured. Their small-ball lineup will be more productive than any with the product from the Texas Longhorns.