The clock is ticking on Boston Celtics two-way big man Mfiondu Kabengele to sign a guaranteed deal with the team — otherwise, he will end up finding a new home elsewhere after 2023 training camp.
Kabengele is currently averaging a double-double for the C’s G-League affiliate Maine Celtics after playing well for the pro team during the Las Vegas Summer League and during the 2022 preseason. He isn’t expected to be promoted to the NBA for the final month and a half of the 2022-23 season.
MassLive’s Brian Robb explained during his latest Celtics Mailbag the timeline for Kabengele to either re-up with Boston or look elsewhere in his pursuit of another home in the Association — and assessed his chances of doing so as not terribly likely:
"“(Kabengele’s) not eligible for a two-way deal next year though so he will either need to make the roster in training camp or look for a new home elsewhere. With Boston already having 12 players under contract for next year, that will be a tough ask for Kabengele.”"
The Boston Celtics are unlikely to keep Mfiondu Kabengele for the 2023-24 season
Particularly if Grant Williams re-ups with the Boston Celtics over the offseason, there will be no room for Kabengele. Even if Williams moves on, though, the frontcourt is well-covered moving forward.
Al Horford has been signed to an extension, and as evidenced by his 2022-23 performance, is nowhere close to being done. Robert Williams III is also under contract, and Luke Kornet is a Brad Stevens favorite.
What really makes Kabengele unlikely is the recent acquisition of Mike Muscala at the 2023 NBA trade deadline. With Muscala owning a team option for the 2023-24 season all but likely to be picked up, there won’t be enough room on the depth chart to justify giving Kabengele a guarantee. The Celtics would be better off looking for a versatile wing who could play both forward positions, because finding a versatile combo big isn’t even a luxury worth pursuing for Boston given their personnel already on the books.