OFFICIAL: Lakers Finalize Trade For Recent 6th Overall Pick
On Thursday, the NBA trading deadline was 3 P.M., so the league was filled with reported transactions.
Now, deals are starting to become official, and the Los Angeles Lakers have announced their trade to acquire 2018 sixth-overall pick Mo Bamba.
Via Lakers PR: "The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired via trade center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic, forward Davon Reed from the Denver Nuggets and two second-round picks from the L.A. Clippers, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka. In the trade, the Lakers sent center Thomas Bryant to the Nuggets and sent guard Patrick Beverley and cash considerations to the Magic."
Bamba played his college basketball for Texas and was seen as a player who had star potential coming into the NBA.
At just 24 years old, there is still plenty of time for him to develop.
Right now, he is averaging 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest in 40 games (while shooting 49.5% from the field).
The Lakers dealt Thomas Bryant (who was averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest) and veteran guard Patrick Beverley (who is averaging 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest).
Both players were productive, but Chris Haynes of the NBA on TNT and Bleacher Report reported that Bryant asked to be traded.
Via Haynes: "Thomas Bryant requested a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers after his minutes diminished once Anthony Davis returned from injury, sources @tell @NBAonTNT , @BleacherReport."
The Lakers are the 13th seed in the Western Conference with a 25-30 record in 55 games.
However, they are just 2.0 games out of the tenth seed (the final play-in tournament spot).
On Thursday night, the Lakers will play their next game when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in California.
