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L.A. Clippers Acquire Draft Rights to Mfiondu Kabengele

The L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele (Fi), the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, from the Brooklyn Nets, in exchange for the draft rights to UCLA guard Jaylen Hands and the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2020 first-round pick. The Clippers selected Hands with the 56th overall pick in the draft.

“The Clippers are great, just similar to Florida State University. There is team cohesion and the togetherness. [They have] Lou Williams coming off the bench as [an elite leader], Montrezl Harrell as well. Shai being a rookie and getting big-time minutes in the playoffs. I just know that when it comes to developing talent and the coaching, I just know it’s the right spot.” said Kabengele.

Kabengele, 21, was named the ACC Sixth Man of the Year during the 2018-19 season where he averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 37 games for the Seminoles. Throughout his two collegiate seasons at Florida State, he appeared in 71 games, averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 18.3 minutes. The 6’10”, 250-pound forward shot 49.8 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range as a Seminole. A native of Burlington, Ontario (Canada), Kabengele was named to the All-ACC Tournament team. Kabengele’s parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to Canada after his uncle, Hall of Famer, Dikembe Mutombo was drafted.