11:41pm: Mozgov and the Lakers are closing in on a four-year deal worth about $16MM annually, Brad Turner of The L.A. Times confirms (via Twitter).
11:38pm: The Lakers and free agent center Timofey Mozgov are in “serious negotiations” on a four-year deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link). Wojnarowski adds that a four-year deal for Mozgov is expected to land in the $65MM range (Twitter link).
Although the Lakers have been linked to a number of free agent centers, including top-tier players like Al Horford and Hassan Whiteside, it appears the team is focused on Mozgov now, with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak reaching out to him as soon as free agency opened, per Wojnarowski (via Twitter). The team hasn’t reached out to Horford, per Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
While the Lakers pursue Mozgov, the team is also keeping a close eye on Nicolas Batum. Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times tweets that the veteran forward is at or near the top of L.A.’s wish list.
Whiteside should have been numero uno priority. I guess I should be glad this article is not about Parsons, but damn. Going to 3rd choice right off the bat is disappointing.
64mil for this scrub omg the Lakers are clueless…
X2
I’m incredibly confused even with the cap jump how a guy who doesn’t play that much gets 16M annually. I have a feeling the landscape of contracts is about to look more ridiculous than baseball.
He didn’t play much…for the Cavs. But he was our starting C for the first 45 games until Lue decided to bench him and go with a more up tempo style. He also started 80 games the 2014-15 season split between the Knicks and Cavs.
I think Mozie could start on at least 15 teams in the NBA.
I also think it’s not a bad idea to have a solid post scoring option on a team that is very shaky on offense from the 3 pt line.
Could start on 15 teams? Which teams? None of them that are good.
Every year it appears more
I’m so done. He’s 29!!!!! He’s garbage. Omg. Messing up again. Would’ve rather gave this to Bismack or Ezeli. Or traded for Bogut and try for next years young centers.
I think this deal will look sane in the coming days, with the inflated numbers that’ll be floated out there for mediocre talents.
The Lakers needed a big, needed someone to anchor their defense, someone who didn’t need touches. They got him. For a deal that’s equivalent to about $8M a year only a few years ago.
My question is: how is the deal structured? It would be a great deal if the Lakers front loaded it entirely, since they likely won’t get any great FAs this year, so they have the talent with lower cap holds in future years.
Still hoping we go after guys like Fournier, Batum (who can be Luke’s skinnier Draymond Green), and Parsons, if the price is right.
As a laker fan and ticket holder this is pretty depressing. I get that contracts are going to be inflated but this guy is the definition of average.
I agree (also a season ticket holder), but at the same time, there’s something equally depressing about maxing a guy like Chandler Parsons, just because the market is in a wonky place and we’re talent-poor.
I feel like if we make some smart, un-sexy moves to help our team develop (and Mozgov might do that – defensively, at least – and definitely is un-sexy), instead of making dumb moves to try to get to, what, 30 wins this year, 40 at best, we’ll be in a better position for 2017 when the FA class is great. Developed core, strong role players, better recipe for a real FA run, even if it makes this year less splashy.
I was hoping the Cavs could hold on to him but that’s obviously way too much to pay for security against injuries.
This seems to scream that the Lakers probably don’t feel as if they have a shot at any of the top C.
If Laker fan is honest with themselves then it isn’t a bad choice. Whiteside seems destined to go to Dallas. Noah is going to the Knicks. Howard and Gasol have no desire to come back to LA. Horford wants to play for a contender? Who else is there in terms of a real big willing to take the Lakers money that has any upside?
I think last year (2014-15 season) was a better indication of his ability. In 80 games as a starter (49 with the Cavs) he was only used for about 25 minutes and only took 7 FA per game but he had a great line of 10 pts/7 rebounds, shot an amazingly efficient 56% from the floor and averaged 1.2 blocks. He’s also quite mobile for big man. With some help and a steady 30-35 minutes a game I think he could easily be a 12-15 pt pg guy with solid rebounding (10 per game) and solid interior defense.
WoW!!! Lakers go with Mozgov as their first priority. Now I’ve seen it all. Smh.
65 million???? Holy hell for him!
At least he’s a good player with some upside. From what I’ve seen so far, this may end up being a very good contract for player and team.
The term getting Mozgoved was coined for a reason. It isn’t because of his upside.
See what can sometimes be forgotten in the craziness of a signing is what the other options were. This is a bad signing if the Lakers didn’t try to offer something to the better options (Whiteside/Horford). It becomes an average signing if the Lakers had Mozgov as their top big (for whatever reason). It becomes a good signing if a big like Biyombo gets paid even more and/or Whiteside/Horford passed on meeting with the Lakers. This is definetly a questionable signing, but let’s wait a day or two to figure out if the Lakers were even in on the other guys before completely knocking this.
Give luke some credit guys he’s going in there with nothing trying to work the dollars to his advantage he’s looking forward to the playoffs and will get it go luke