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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Impact of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns looks on against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns looks on against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Texas Longhorns. Mohamed Bamba. 6. player. 24. . Center

Age: 19 (5/2/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’0″, 225 pounds, 7’9″
Slash Line: .541/.275/.681
Season Averages: 30.2 MPG, 12.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.2 ORPG, 3.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 3PM

The Chicago Bulls need a wing who can defend at a high level and a center who can do the same. Robin Lopez is the ultimate team player and Denzel Valentine has flashed two-way potential, but the Bulls need to capitalize on what could be its last lottery pick for quite some time.

With a solid foundation of Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and Lauri Markkanen already in place, the Bulls take the best player available: Mohamed Bamba.

Some might argue that Jackson has a higher ceiling, but Bamba fits exactly what the Bulls need. They already have two ball-dominant perimeter players and a scoring big, which makes the primary requirement a rim protecting big who can rebound at a high level.

Bamba certainly fits the bill with his gargantuan 7’9″ wingspan and rankings of No. 5 in the NCAA in block percentage and No. 15 in defensive rebound percentage.

Offensively, Bamba has proven capable of collapsing defenses in the post and creating second chances via the offensive glass. He’s also an improving shooter who has flashed the ability to convert from beyond the three-point line.

Bamba has a higher ceiling than Markkanen, but in Chicago, he could focus on defense knowing there’s another big who can score and prevent his energy from being spread too thin.

Knicks Note: Mohamed Bamba is unlikely to fall to No. 9, but he and Kristaps Porzingis would form an incomparable interior for the New York Knicks.

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