The Atlanta Hawks Should Inquire About Orlando’s Mo Bamba
Should the Orlando Magic decide to trade Mo Bamba, there will certainly be suitors. So the Atlanta Hawks will have to give up something of value, in order to consummate the deal.
The Orlando Magic need ball handling facilitators badly. With Markelle Fultz still experiencing mental struggles, their backcourt situation is in dire straits. A point guard to back up D.J. Augustin, is certainly needed.
Atlanta Hawks guard DeAndre’ Bembry is not a traditional point guard. However he does have experience running Atlanta’s second unit. He averaged a career high 2.5 assists last season and nearly 4 assists per 36 minutes.
Bembry has the height and length that Orlando covets in a player. He is a very good defender, which seems to be the focus of Orlando’s roster building.
The Atlanta Hawks acquisition of Evan Turner makes DeAndre’ Bembry expendable. Turner has a similar skill set, but is more poised and experienced.
Both Turner and Bembry struggle to shoot from deep, meaning they are both best with the ball in their hands. This calls into question their fit together with the Atlanta second unit. Would we see a Turner, Bembry pick and roll?
DeAndre’ Bembry is also the last remaining member of the pre Travis Schlenk era, so it makes sense that he would be the next player to go. The fact that he is up for restricted free agency next offseason, and Atlanta seems intent on keeping the books clear for the 2021 offseason, is another reason that he could be sent packing.
Atlanta would be smart to trade Bembry now, rather than risk losing him for nothing. Veteran Allen Crabbe with his career 39 percent three-point shot, would be a better fit with the Atlanta Hawks bench squad.
Omari Spellman was drafted number 30, in round one of the 2018 NBA Draft. Injuries limited him to only 46 games. He showed promise as a stretch big, making 34.4 percent of his shots from deep.
However Spellman posted unimpressive numbers on the boards, averaging just 8.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. His one block per 36 minutes was also underwhelming.
Even more concerning, was the fact that Omari Spellman shot just 47 percent from two point range and 56 percent at the rim. Those are numbers that should be better for a big man, particularly one that plays with a gifted passer like Trae Young.
Omari Spellman has potential, but he does not project to be a starting center. He could one day be a valuable contributor off the bench, but he is worth sacrificing, to obtain the starting center of the future.