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Charlotte Hornets: Unofficial 2018 NBA draft big board

By Noah Elmore

Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 14: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 Kentucky shoots over Mohamed Bamba #11 during the Jordan Brand Classic, National Boys Team All-Star basketball game at The Barclays Center on April 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 14: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 Kentucky shoots over Mohamed Bamba #11 during the Jordan Brand Classic, National Boys Team All-Star basketball game at The Barclays Center on April 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

4. Mohamed Bamba – PF/C, Texas

Combo big man Mohamed Bamba could be one of the longest and lankiest players in the league upon his arrival. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had a standing reach of around 9’7″ before entering the league. Comparatively, Bamba measures up at around 9’6″.

Bamba receives praise for more than his physical attributes though. He’s a defensive stud and has averaged 4.1 blocks per 40 minutes in his lifetime. Offensively, Bamba still has a developing jumper, but he is further along than Ayton. He may not turn into a sniper from deep, but defenses will certainly have to respect him.

One of Bamba’s biggest strengths is also a weakness though. While staying at a slender 215 pounds allows him to be mobile and cover ground quickly defensively, it means he can get pushed around easily. Bamba has a weak lower body, and will not be a powerful presence in the paint on the offensive end. He hovers around the perimeter far too much for a man of his size, and will likely only catch lobs, at least at the beginning of his career.

Bamba would be a nice pairing next to Cody Zeller for the future of Charlotte, making them an almost impassible defensive duo. He’d also provide much-needed interior defense in lineups with Frank Kaminsky. But there’s one big man ahead of him on the mock big board.