The Sacramento Kings acquired LA Clippers forward Mfiondu Kabengele and cashed in for a heavily protected future second-round pick, sources told ESPN.
With the deal, the Clippers created an open spot before Thursday’s NBA trading deadline and the eventual free agent purchase market, falling $ 2.6 million below the cap. Under hardcover restrictions, the Clippers had to wait until March 30 to sign a player. Now, there are no restrictions on the use of the two open places on the team roster.
The kings absorbed Kabengele in a trade exception that would have expired on Monday.
Kabengele, a 6-foot, 9-out-of-Florida striker, was the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He played in moderation with the Clippers in two seasons, entering 35 games and making a average 4.5 minutes on a veteran team.
Now the Kings have a chance to closely inspect Kabengele for the rest of the 2020-21 season. The Clippers turned down their third-year pick before the season.
Bobby Marks, an ESPN front office expert, contributed to this report.