Lakers: 5 Storylines To Follow Heading Into Training Camp
Which Timofey Mozgov did the Lakers sign?
The Lakers paid a lot of money for the Russian big man, but can he live up to it?
Where were you July 1, 2016?
I was at dinner constantly refreshing my feed on Twitter, checking to see which big name free agent the Lakers signed with all of their money.
Was it going to be Hassan Whiteside? Al Horford? Festus Ezeli? Timofey Mozgov?
It was Timofey Mozgov.
.@WojVerticalNBA: Lakers, Timofey Mozgov have agreed to four-year, $64 million deal.
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) July 1, 2016
Live: https://t.co/92ODzkg0ai
The 30-year-old Russian center that averaged 6.3 points and 3 rebounds per game signed a four-year deal, with no options, that will make him the second highest paid player on the roster.
Needless to say fans weren’t thrilled with this singing. To make things worse, news broke over the summer that Mozgov was having an issue with a groin injury that caused him to miss team with the Russian national team.
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The same kind of nagging injuries caused him to underperform in his second year with the Cleveland Cavaliers and ultimately costed him a spot in the Cavs rotation.
Luckily, Mozgov’s injury wasn’t too serious and he’s expected to be ready for training camp with no restrictions.
When Mozgov is healthy, he is an above average NBA center, but the “when healthy” asterisk has plagued the Lakers over the past few years. Whether it be Kobe Bryant or Steve Nash, the Lakers have had their fair share of injured star players.
Going with the assumption that he will play more than 70 games – which he has only done three times in his career – Mozgov can be exactly what the Lakers need.
Not can he a defensive powerhouse, but he can also provide a grit on the offensive end that the Lakers haven’t had in years. In his first season with the Cavs, Mozgov was an absolute monster in the playoffs.
While his stats weren’t jaw dropping, the 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game was a huge reason the Cavs made it to seven games against the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
If Mozgov can stay healthy and put up numbers when he’s on the floor, the $16 million he’s due next season won’t hurt as much.
But it will still sting a little bit.