Mozgov has been struggling to recapture his form after offseason surgery to remove a cyst from his knee.
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Mozgov performed well for the Cavs two seasons ago but lost minutes with Tristan Thompson playing so well, coupled with the max deal signing of Kevin Love. Heading into his free-agent contract season, Mozgov perhaps pushed too aggressively to return from injury, and Tristan Thompson became the Cavs’ starting centre in the post-season.
Even still, Mozgov’s name had not circulated around the team’s rumor mill, making it a surprise that the team signed him so quickly, let alone to the amount of money the deal is worth.
Mozgov also could be a mentor to Ivica Zubac, the 7-foot Croatian teenager drafted by the Lakers with the 32nd overall pick last week.
Conley being able to receive $30.6 million a year only means that the guys who have won a ring, have an MVP trophy and/or have multple all-star appearances, will receive even larger contracts.
The center spent the last two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, during which he averaged 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 46 games in the 2014-15 season… and started all 20 games during their postseason, though they lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. According to reports Friday, he already met with the Rockets and James Harden but both sides couldn’t agree to a deal.
The Lakers also re-signed shooting guard Jordan Clarkson, a restricted free agent. He averaged 17.4 points in his fourth season for the Wizards.
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Yet, the Lakers wanted him so badly that general manager Mitch Kupchak reached out to Mozgov when free agency began at 9:01 p.m. PT on Thursday, according to league sources. But those facts didn’t stop Lakers loyalists from doing the Twitter equivalent of screaming into a pillow this morning – and didn’t stop all other franchises’ fans from delighting in the LA brass’ latest seemingly inexplicable move.
