The Clippers have made their first move heading into Thursday’s trade deadline, and it’s a deal that is likely a precursor to something bigger soon.
LA traded Mfiondu Kabengele, the team’s 2019 first-round pick, to Sacramento along with a second-round pick and some cash in exchange for another second rounder. Before you get worried about the Clippers packaging an asset — like one of the Detroit seconds — to dump Kabengele, rest assured that wasn’t the case. ESPN reports that both picks in the deal are heavily protected and unlikely to convey, so the Clippers basically sent the Kings some cash to take on Kabengele for the rest of the season.