Clippers News: Mfiondu Kabengele Traded to Kings; LAC Now $2.6M Under Hard Cap

The Los Angeles Clippers have dealt forward Mfiondu Kabengele, a conditional future second-round pick and cash to the Sacramento Kings, who will send back a conditional future second-round pick, the Clippers announced Monday night.

The Kings will come away from the deal with a bench player, but the agreement has immediate implications for the Clippers.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the move brings the Clippers $2.6 million under the league's hard cap, a major win for a team that otherwise could have missed out on the opportunity to participate in the buyout market that could materialize following Thursday's trade deadline.

As Wojnarowski explained, "Under the restrictions of the hard cap, the Clippers had to wait until March 30 to sign a player. Now, there are no restrictions on using the team's two open roster spots."

With players like Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarcus Cousins among those expected to be available on the buyout market, the Clippers will now be able to take advantage as they look to fill their pair of open roster spots.

Kabengele, the No. 27 pick out of Florida State in 2019, had averaged 4.5 minutes through 35 outings with the Clippers, who previously declined his third-year option.

Los Angeles, which holds the fourth seed in the Western Conference at 27-16, may not be done making deals ahead of Thursday's deadline.

On Monday, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported that Los Angeles had reached out about the availability of a pair of point guards in the Oklahoma City Thunder's George Hill and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio in an effort to get some playmaking going outside of the efforts made by the team's stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers rank 19th with 24.3 assists per game.

Moving Kabengele gives the Clippers, who have little to be desired in a trade other than Leonard and George, some flexibility moving forward.