Kofi Inkoom
The Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement to trade Filip Petrusev along with a cash component to Sacramento Kings, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Filip Petrusev, aged 23, became part of the Clippers through the James Harden trade with the 76ers, which also brought them the forward P.J. Tucker.
The specifics of what the Kings will send to the Clippers in return have not yet been disclosed. However, it is highly probable that draft picks or other forms of compensation are involved.
Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, Petrusev, who plays as a forward/center, has an impressive track record.
He secured a EuroLeague championship with Anadolu Efes in 2022 and clinched a Serbian League title with Crvena Zvezda in 2023.
Additionally, he represented the Serbian national team, which earned a second-place finish in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
As for the financial aspect of this trade, it’s noteworthy that since the minimum cash a team can send in a trade is $1.1 million, and Petrusev’s cap hit amounts to just $1,119,563, the Clippers essentially cover the 23-year-old’s salary on behalf of Sacramento.
This arrangement means that the Kings could choose to waive him at a later point without incurring any substantial financial penalties, providing flexibility in managing their 15th roster spot.
Assuming that the terms of Petrusev’s contract remain unaltered in this trade, it’s important to note that his current salary is only partially guaranteed, standing at $559,572, which equates to 50% of his full salary.