By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Ismael Kamagate was included in the five-team trade, which was officially confirmed on Thursday.
As a component of this blockbuster transaction, the Los Angeles Clippers sent the draft rights of the 25-year-old French center to the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the second-round pick in 2027 to the Washington Wizards, to help facilitate the acquisition of 30-year-old Max Strus.
The Paris native has seen his NBA draft rights become a highly active trade asset since he was initially selected with the 46th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm. He has been moved sequentially from the Detroit Pistons to the Portland Trail Blazers, onward to the Denver Nuggets, then to the Clippers, and now finally lands with the Cavs.
On the international stage, Kamagate has represented France in the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers following his early development at the junior national level. His extensive European club career features nine Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, 41 7DAYS/BKT EuroCup games splitting time between Besiktas Gain and Paris, and 16 Basketball Champions League games with Bertram Derthona Tortona, amounting to a Star Lineup First Team nod. Heading into the 2026–27 season, he pinned a multiyear agreement with the BCL’s Openjobmetis Varese.
This finalized, multi-team agreement looping together the Clippers, Cavaliers, Wizards, Nuggets, and Charlotte Hornets seals a complex transaction highlighted by Cleveland landing Peyton Watson. The inclusion of Kamagate helps balance the asset distribution between all five participating franchises.
Make