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LA Clippers trade up to No. 27, select Florida State product Mfiondu Kabengele

By Garrett Chorpenning

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 28: Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) grabs his jersey during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship Sweet Sixteen round basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Gonzaga Bulldogs on March 28, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 28: Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) grabs his jersey during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship Sweet Sixteen round basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Gonzaga Bulldogs on March 28, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers entered the night without a first round pick, but traded with the Brooklyn Nets and acquired Mfiondu Kabengele with the No. 27 overall pick.

The LA Clippers have reportedly traded up in the 2019 NBA Draft and have selected Florida State big man Mfiondu Kabengele with the 27th overall pick. In exchange for the pick, the Clippers have reportedly sent the Brooklyn Nets the No. 56 overall pick in tonight’s draft, in addition to the 2020 first round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers that was acquired via the Tobias Harris trade.

The nephew of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, Kabengele has great size for a big man. The 21-year-old stands 6’10” and has a 7’3″ wingspan, and has drawn comparisons to Toronto’s Serge Ibaka.

Kabengele was extremely efficient with the Florida State Seminoles in his sophomore year, averaging 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in less than 22 minutes per game. In addition, he shot 50.2 percent from the field and has the ability to stretch the floor, as he connected on 36.9 percent of his three-point attempts this past season. In 2019, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year.

The Ringer‘s NBA Mock Draft notes that Kabengele is “an energetic shot blocker”, which is something the Clippers have needed for some time now. If he can become a legitimate rim protector in LA and keep a consistent three-point shot, he could serve as a solid, floor-stretching big rather quickly.

Kabengele won’t just be an asset on the defensive end, though, and has shown to be an efficient rebounder as well. Of his 5.9 rebounds per game this past season, 2.1 came off the offensive glass. His 4.9 free throws per game also show that he’s not one to shy away from contact, and his 76.1 conversion rate from the stripe is a promising sign as well.

Kabengele has plenty of two-way potential and is capable of stretching the floor, making him a near-perfect fit for the LA Clippers. It’s unclear where he’ll start the season on the depth chart, as the Clippers still have Montrezl Harrell and are expected to make an effort to re-sign Ivica Zubac this summer. But frontcourt depth was an area of need, and it’s clear LA felt there was a good enough reason to trade up for Kabengele.

Next. Which players should the LA Clippers target in the draft?. dark

The LA Clippers will still make the 56th overall pick tonight, so the night isn’t over quite yet. Expect them to target a swingman there that has the same two-way potential.