Your thoughts on Mfiondu Kabengele

[snowman]

Sorry in advance for this being longwinded:

I have been pushing for the team to sign Kabengele all season. I think he would be a great addition off the bench, and even a spot starter. Seeing as our biggest weakness is at the 4 and 5 spot, this guy seems to help out there. We lack a low post threat except for RWIII. Watching Big Al throw the backout of the post to a three point shooter instead taking it to the rim showed me this weakness. We lack rebounding except for RWIII and Tatum. We lack rim protection except for RWIII and Horford. The fact that Horford is 37 years old, and RWIII has only played over 50 games in two of his five seasons and has topped out at 61 games last season is a big-time concern, as everyone on this forum knows.

Kabengele is 25 years old, only 2 months older than RWIII. He is 6'10, 250 lbs. He would be the third tallest player on the team. Yes, he has not seen much playing time with the Celtics and spent most of his time in the G-League, and has been on three different teams, with three different styles of play in his three years. That by itself can slow down someone's progression. However, being with the Maine Celtics this season, and having practice time with the big club, he has produced his best season ever. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds and 1 block this season on a team that emphasizes three-point shooting. He even shot 34+ percent from three this season. I do not see how Boston can't find space for this guy, as he would come very cheap, and with our salary cap issues is very important. I am certain that under the guidance of Big Al and RWIII, along with the new asst coaches we have, he will show he belongs in the NBA. I would take him over Blake Griffin, who at 34 years old still has great hustle and showed a lot this year, but his knees are shot. If there is room, I would keep Blake too. I don't think there will be though. I would also take Kabengele over Luke Kornet. I know Kornet was signed to a regular contract and Kabengele was signed to a 2-way, but Kornet did not have the availability to sign a 2-way and we would lose if not signed to a regular contract. Kabengele had one more year of 2-way status available, so to keep both, they had to be sighed this way. Kabengele is in the same situation Kornet was last season, as he has no more 2-way availability, and we either sign him to a regular contract or lose him all together. We also don't know how Gallo's health will be this season, and he wasn't running up and down the court with the best of them already. He is also 34 years old. I like Muscala, and think he will show better this season, having had a full year with the club, but he is 31 years old.

At the minimum, Kabengele would be a really good, cheap way to fill the 15th roster spot, and insurance for RWIII and Big Al this upcoming season. However, he also has the chance to be a whole lot more. If he can average just 6 points and 4 rebounds, he would be our 4th best big behind RWIII, Big Al, and Grant. I would love to see our big man rotation being something like this:

PF: Horford (37), Gallo (34), Muscala (31)
C: RWIII (25), Kabengele (25), Kornet (27)

Let me know what you guys think, and if you would sign him.

[GoCeltics123]

Is it April Fools day

[ThePigeon]

I didn't see anything from him the past year
He was a deer in a lamp light in the very few opportunities he got
Also in the G-League, not much BBIQ

I rather we work with Kornet on some skills around the basket and instilling toughness
He was a contributor at some time this year and neglected when playoff started

They would have the same contract I guess

[hugepatsfan]

He's barely an NBA player. It's an absolute catastrophe if he's a part of the big man rotation. Muscala and Kornet are obviously better players, they're just not exciting.

[threrf23]

For our 15th roster spot, sure? I'm all for it, until a must sign binkie emerges. And that will happen.

I liked him as a draft prospect but he is not the player I thought he was and he never brought a lot of upside to the table, even though he should improve with age.

Even relative to our current front court, I think Kornet is a better if less consistent player, who also still has some upside. And Muscala is an interesting piece too, he ideally needs to be hidden by coach on the defensive end but otherwise his offensive game is fairly comparable to Cam Johnson, who people seem to think is a stud.

Granted, Muscala is 32 in July and I wouldn't prioritize keeping him.

I also wouldn't choose him over Blake. Blake is well past his prime but still before his expiration, and he seems to be a good locker room piece in a worst case scenario.

[playa-hater]

On a few times hes played with the Boston celvis. The only thing I seem to remember is how much shorter. He seems when he plays on the n b a level.

[Hal14]

Good g league player. But he's about to turn 26 and (despite having plenty of chances) still hasn't been able to contribute anything at the NBA level.

So probably destined to be a career G-leaguer, or overseas guy.

Last season, we ended the season with a couple of 25 year old guys as our 2-way players (Brodric Thomas, Matt Ryan). Both played on our summer league team last summer. 1 of them was invited to training camp but got cut early in training camp. The other did not get a training camp invite. I suspect Kabengele will meet a similar fate. He'll either play in SL then not get TC invite, get TC invite then get cut, or perhaps he won't even get an invite to be on our SL team..

Wish him the best of luck, though. Seems like a good dude, plays hard, good player. Will continue to have a pro basketball career somewhere..

[shackles10]

I think he's a guy who could occasionally come in and provide good energy that could help you turn things around mid-game a few times a year. I think he's also a guy who's going to be out of place and get outplayed by his counterpoint and cost you more of those games if you're having to rely on him. Of course if you're to that point you're probably conceding some games anyways. He's not any worse than Noah Vonleh, but he didn't last the whole season and was open in case of emergency. Regardless of age, it's a spot we can fill any time with all kinds of vets looking for a roster spot.

[steefP2]

He probably sucks. maybe a good 10th man

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

[jfs1000d]

Releases. Just no need .


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[31to6]

On a few times hes played with the Boston celvis. The only thing I seem to remember is how much shorter. He seems when he plays on the n b a level.

Yeah, looked great in Maine, looked not promising in the NBA, which is probably why he was available for the low price of absolutely nothing a year ago.

[Curmudgeon]

He was never given a real chance. I'm not saying is NBA material but we don't know at this point. Max Struss wasn't supposed to be NBA material either.

[Marti-mar]

He can soak up some minutes in blow out games. That's kind of his ceiling. It is extraordinarily rare for a 26 year old to develop into an NBA player. You've almost always made it by that age if you're going to. He's a fun player for the G League though.

[ThePigeon]

He was never given a real chance. I'm not saying is NBA material but we don't know at this point. Max Struss wasn't supposed to be NBA material either.

Wish we had the MIA player development program
And Strus was awful in the finals. If he was on the Celtics and played like in the finals, people would be waiting next to his house with torches

Gelle showed nothing. Kornet is a lot better at the same price