What can Mfiondu Kabengele Bring to the Table?

The LA Clippers moved into the first round to select Mfiondu Kabengele from Florida State University at pick 27. With that said, what can the young Seminole bring to the table for Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers?

The LA Clippers used the 2020 Lottery Protected Philadelphia 76ers pick and the 56th overall pick in this draft to trade up to pick 27 and select Mfiondu Kabengele out of Florida State.

Kabengele stands at 6-foot-10 and is listed at 250 pounds and is listed as a power forward but has all the right tools to play either power forward or center.

With that said, what can the young big bring to the LA Clippers from day one and hopefully many good days to follow.

Perimeter Shooting

One aspect that Kabengele prides himself on is his perimeter shooting.

In two seasons with the Seminoles, Kabengele shot 37.7% from beyond the arc, which includes a six PPG increase from season one to season two. He also attempted at least one three per game in his second season while he attempted less than one per game in his first season.

Kabengele’s shooting stroke is also very clean and could see some improvement but shooting nearly 40% from beyond the arc, especially standing 6-foot-10 with a pretty hefty wingspan, which I will get to later, is something worth while.

His willingness to step out beyond the arc can help space the floor as a role player alongside Montrezl Harrell, who doesn’t have a perimeter game, and Lou Williams. Kabengele could work very nicely alongside Williams in the pick-and-roll as well as the pick-and-fade game, making him a solid addition in the shooting department.

Of course his shooting can be improved but for the time being he is one of the lone stretch bigs on the roster and could polish into a commodity sooner rather than later in the shooting department.

Impressive Shot Blocking

I mentioned Kabengele’s wingspan earlier and he uses it well when defending inside with his above average shot blocking.

He averaged 1.5 blocks per game and 2.8 per 40 minutes in his second season and was very solid in contesting nearly every shot he faced inside.

Due to his perimeter shooting, he also has success defending outside but obviously does not prefer it much but isn’t a liability in that spot.

Every team could use shot blocking, especially the Clippers, who ranked 22nd in the league in blocks per game with 4.7. Kabengele can definitely help in this department with his size and will likely be asked to do throughout most of his career.

Solid Rebounder

Kabengele comes with tons of upside and his rebounding is a big part of that.

He averaged nearly six boards per game in his sophomore season, two from the offensive side of the basketball and four from the defensive side, and also made sure he knew how to box out his opponents in the paint on missed shots.

There isn’t much to talk about in terms of his rebounding ability except that he brings size off the bench now for LA, something they currently do not have. Harrell is a solid center but Kabengele has a two inch height advantage as well as better size in general for rebounds so he will be welcomed with open arms by Doc Rivers to create second chance points on the offensive side of the basketball.

Draft Grade : A-

Kabengele went around where he was projected and the Clippers filled a void they needed badly, a stretch big who also has defensive upside and the size needed to succeed in the modern-day association.

He brings unique attributes to the Clippers that were missing this past season and he has the potential to become a starting center in the NBA one day. He can also play minutes at the four depending on what lineup he becomes apart of and his upside was worth trading into the first round for.

Kabengele can improve in his inside scoring as well as his discipline when staying out of foul trouble but those are easily fixable traits that will come with maturity. Does he play right away? Unlikely and also likely depending on where the Clippers sit following free agency.

Regardless, Kabengele will make an impact at some point in an LA Clippers uniform.