The Sacramento Kings have acquired LA Clippers forward Mfiondu Kabengele for cash for a strong protected future second round, sources told ESPN.
With the deal, the Clippers created an open position ahead of Thursday’s deadline for the NBA and the eventual buyout market for free agencies, which fell $ 2.6 million below the ceiling. Under the hard-hitting restrictions, the Clippers had to wait until March 30 to sign a player. There are now no restrictions on the use of the team’s two open lists.
The Kings included Kabengele in a trade deal that would expire on Monday.
Kabengele, a 9-foot forward from Florida State, was the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He played sparingly with the Clippers in two seasons, entering 35 games and scoring 4.5 minutes in a veteran-driven team.
The Kings now get the chance to take a closer look at Kabengele during the rest of the 2020-21 season. The Clippers turned down its third-year option before the season.
The inside of ESPN, Bobby Marks, contributed to this report.