Despite being healthy, Lakers center Timofey Mozgov may not play again this season, tweets Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. A source tells Spears that Mozgov has been “shut down” so the team can take a closer look at its younger players.
Signing the 30-year-old was the first major move of the offseason for the Lakers, who gave him a four-year, $64MM contract. It was considered a large amount for someone who had rarely been more than a part-time starter since entering the league in 2010.
If Mozgov’s first season is done in L.A., he finishes it with averages of 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 54 games. He has only played twice since February 6th, and rookie Ivica Zubac appears to have taken his place in the starting lineup.
Mozgov still has three seasons and $48MM left on his contract. The Lakers’ other significant free agent signing of last summer, Luol Deng, has three years and $54MM remaining. The 31-year-old small forward hasn’t played since February 28th as the Lakers’ new regime puts an emphasis on youth.
In addition to developing its young players, L.A. has an incentive to tank as its pick will go to the Sixers if it lands outside the top three. The Lakers are currently second in our Reverse Standings.
:At the Discoteca:
Tank, tank, tank do-do-do-doot-do-doo
Tank, tank, tank do-do-do-doot-do-doo
Lakers tanking, Lakers tanking
Had Mozgov and Deng played better they’d still be in the lineup. Both gave half-ass effort and certainly didn’t earn they’re money.
your assuming they were giving half ass effort when in reality they were subpar players to begin with. Lakers gave big contract to an aging veteran on the wrong side of 30 and a center who was basically stop playing in the middle of last year.
Exactly ! Not that they gave subpar effort it’s just they weren’t worthy of those big contracts.
It going to cost them a few draft picks to ditch those contracts
Exactly !
There’s not really a need to ditch them. Other than those 2, their roster is filled with young cheap players, so they don’t really have any need to clear cap room.
Of course they lose actual money but I’m sure they have plenty of that.
Those 2 contracts are very problematic. They’ll have room for only 1 big time free agent until they can move at least 1 of them.
Good signing by them last offseason
Can Lakers use stretch provision still? I think it’d be a wise idea to stretch Mozgov or maybe negotiate a buyout.
Stretch provision is always available — the time of year a player is waived just affects whether or not his current-season salary can be stretched.
Mosgov is skilled 7’3 big man with soft touch and nice footwork, finishes strong at the rim. He just needs minutes to produce and he is the kind of player that would look better on a more experienced team. He was huge in playoffs for the cavs for a stretch, he just doesn’t fit with the way teams are playing. If Noah is worth 18m a year then mosgov sure as hell is. Deng is the one that looked bad this year, he has never been really athletic just long and skilled for his size, his jumper has never been lights out from 3, he isn’t quick enough to beat guys off dribble, he only looks good when he has been someone to get a lot of touches and chances.