Updated Report: Kings sign Luc Mbah a Moute

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Updated at 6:50 p.m. PST, July 14

A familiar face is back.

Free agent Luc Mbah a Moute has signed a contract with a Sacramento Kings, according to the team’s press release. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

The Kings traded two second round picks to the Bucks to acquire Mbah a Moute in July 2013. The forward made only nine appearances (five starts) in purple and black before he was flipped for Minnesota’s Derrick Williams on November 26 the same year. Mbah a Moute averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.4 turnovers in 21.8 minutes as a King.

Mbah a Moute was considered one of the NBA’s best defenders before recurring knee issues took their toll. The 6-foot-8, 230-pounder was even hobbled by right knee pain to begin his stint in Sacramento. Mbah a Moute showed signs of turning a corner last season, when he played in 67 games with the 76ers, his highest total since 2010-11. He started at power forward and scored a career-high 9.9 points per game along with 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 turnovers in 28.6 minutes.

In the UCLA Bruin’s second stint with the Kings, Mbah a Moute will likely see most of his playing time matched on threes and be tasked with shoring up Sacramento’s porous perimeter defense. As a career 29.9 percent shooter from behind the arc, the 28-year-old won’t be expected to provide much offensively.

In eight seasons with the Bucks, Kings, Timberwolves and 76ers, Mbah a Moute has averaged 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 turnovers in 24.3 minutes. He has appeared in 466 regular season games, starting 301.

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