3 players the Rockets wish they signed over Jock Landale in free agency

2. Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba has now become more synonymous with the Sheck Wes hit from 2017 than his actual play on the court. And in many respects, the 25-year-old hasn't lived up to his draft position as the sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, as the Orlando Magic decided against keeping him, and dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2023 trade deadline.

Bamba didn't get much burn in the purple and gold, as he played just nine games and averaged 9.8 minutes per contest. Bamba landed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, and has ran into a scarcity of minutes yet again, as he's played just 7.9 minutes per contest in Philly this season.

Bamba possesses a skillset that the Rockets need. He's a 7-foot center who can protect the paint and block shots at the rim. The six-year veteran has also proven to be capable of knocking down the long-range shot, as he's a career 36.5 percent shooter from deep. Bamba is shooting 61.5 percent from three this season, although the sample size is too small to take anything away from that. 

Bamba is averaging 17.8 points, 13 rebounds, and 2,5 blocks per 36 minutes this season. The unique thing for the Rockets, as it pertains to Bamba, is that they likely could still acquire him via trade right now, since he's not in Nick Nurse's rotation.