K-theoretic exceptional collections at roots of unity

Using cyclotomic specializations of the equivariant $K$-theory with respect to a torus action we derive congruences for discrete invariants of exceptional objects in derived categories of coherent sheaves on a class of varieties that includes Grassmannians and smooth quadrics. For example, we prove that if $X={\Bbb P}^{n_1-1}\times...\times{\Bbb P}^{n_k-1}$, where $n_i$'s are powers of a fixed prime number $p$, then the rank of an exceptional object on $X$ is congruent to $\pm 1$ modulo $p$.