The Sacramento Kings traded with their rivals in the Pacific Division, the LA Clippers. The Kings acquired forward Mfiondu Kabengele, a future second player and cash in exchange for a protected future second round.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced the news and provided more details.
Kings used a trade exception that would expire on transaction today. Both choices in the second round were strongly protected and probably not passed on, sources said. Kings gets a young forward to evaluate – and cash; Clippers create a grid spot. https://t.co/MpqjAm4UOX
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 23, 2021
Kabengele has played in 23 games for the Clippers this season, with 1.2 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.1 minutes per game.
The 23-year-old was selected 27th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA draft. His draft rights were traded to LA for a future first round and Jaylen Hands.
Kabengele’s numbers per 36 minutes are encouraging at 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. If general manager Monte McNair prefers to handle the big men Nemanja Bjelica and Hassan Whiteside before Thursday’s NBA Chamber of Commerce deadline, we can see Kabengele getting a few extra minutes during the final series of the regular season.
The Clippers did not want to choose Kabengele’s option, so he will be a free agent at the end of the season.