The Magic have waived center Timofey Mozgov, according to a tweet from the team’s PR department. Mozgov missed all of last season due to a knee injury.
Mozgov’s $16.72MM salary for next season is fully guaranteed and Orlando will use the stretch provision to avoid going over the luxury tax threshold, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. His salary will be stretched at a cost of $5.57MM per year over the next three years. By stretching Mozgov’s contract, Orlando could potentially retain restricted free agent Khem Birch, Robbins adds (Twitter links). Orlando made Birch an RFA by extending a $1.82MM qualifying offer.
The Magic were $3MM over the luxury tax line and a projected $890K below the tax apron prior to waiving Mozgov, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. By stretching Mozgov, Orlando falls $8.2MM under the tax and $12MM under the apron, Marks adds.
Mozgov underwent right knee surgery in early January. The Magic acquired him last July as part of a three-way swap with the Bulls and Hornets.
Mozgov, 32, was one of the big winners during the free agent frenzy of 2016, as he signed a four-year, $64MM deal with the Lakers. Buyer’s remorse quickly set in as he only appeared in 54 games with Los Angeles before he was traded to Brooklyn. The Hornets acquired him last summer, then shipped him to Orlando.
Given his injury situation and lack of production in prior years, Mozgov made find it difficult landing another NBA job.
Mitch Kupchak is about to give him the bag again
Marks’ math doesn’t make much sense (though that’s not unusual for him). He says they’re over the tax by $3mm but under apron by $1mm, but the apron is over $6mm above the tax line…
Incentives and non guaranteed salary?
Lakers!
Cavs should look to bring him back for the minimum. They need a rim protector and he was around 1.5 per 36 minutes. he averaged over a block pg when he started with the Cavs. also a good pick and role and lob guy. he would be good off the bench key is, cheap.