TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors have added some much-needed size with the signing of 7-foot center Mo Bamba.
The NBA team announced the signing of the 2018 lottery draft pick on Monday, a day after reports of the deal surfaced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Bamba's arrival gives the Raptors more offensive options as starting center Jakob Poeltl recovers from a back injury.
Ring protection has been an issue without the 7-foot Austrian in the lineup. Star forward Scottie Barnes started at center and grabbed 25 rebounds in the Raptors' 141-127 overtime win over Golden State on Sunday, but at 6-foot-8, he's not small enough for the position.
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Six-foot-nine Georgian forward Sandro Mamukelashvili also started at center in Poeltl's absence.
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Bamba, 27, who was born in New York to Ivorian parents, was Orlando's sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but failed to make it in seven seasons with the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans.
Bamba averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 16.8 minutes in 364 NBA games (101 starts).
This season, he played 14 games for the Salt Lake City Stars, the Utah Jazz's G League affiliate, and performed well, averaging 16.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.9 blocks and 28.7 minutes.
Bamba was scheduled to face his former team when the Raptors host Orlando on Monday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
