The Toronto Raptors announced the signing of centre Mo Bamba to a one-year deal on Monday.
The deal is a one-year contract, as his representatives had announced on Sunday, but as TSN’s Josh Lewenberg notes, the deal does not become fully guaranteed until Jan. 10.
This means that the deal can essentially be treated as an extended tryout for the centre who has averaged 16.5 points and 12 rebounds with the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars team.
Lewenberg also points out that he should be available to play Monday against the Orlando Magic, who drafted the 7-foot player with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and where he played for the first four years of his career.
He played for the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans a season ago, averaging 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 12.9 minutes per contest in 32 games.
The Raptors improved to 19-14 on Sunday, outlasting the Golden State Warriors 141-127 in overtime. Scottie Barnes scored 23 points, matched a Raptors franchise record with a career-high 25 rebounds and added 10 assists for his seventh career triple-double.
The Raptors won despite playing without center Jakob Poeltl, who sat for the fifth time in six games with a lower back injury. Per Lewenberg, the Raptors are expected to update Poeltl’s status later on Monday and the expectation is that the veteran centre will miss additional time as he battles a back issue.
If the contract becomes full guaranteed, it would put the Raptors $772,000 over the luxury tax.
The Raptors play the second half of a back-to-back against the Magic tonight, followed by a matchup with the dangerous Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.