James has a home in Los Angeles, and could collect on that dinner from Mozgov as early as this summer.
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The NBA’s version of speed dating started at a frenetic pace. They have a history of incredible centers and apparently are hoping that Mozzy is the next big center of the Laker history books. Hassan Whiteside is also about to receive a huge pay raise from either the Miami Heat or Dallas Mavericks if the current expectations hold up. At least the Lakers are ready to start their next chapter.
The possibility a top free agent might overlook an inexperienced roster for the chance to play in Los Angeles?
According to a report from Yahoo!
The Los Angeles Lakers are giving serious consideration into Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Jordan Clarkson has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal to return to the Lakers, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press on Friday.
A league source blasted the Lakers to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, wondering why the Lakers were late mobilizing their efforts to secure a meeting with Durant. An unheralded second-round pick in 2014 by the Wizards, Clarkson was traded to the Lakers on draft night in exchange for cash considerations. Offering a guy who played 76 total minutes in the postseason a $64 million contract is definitely a head-scratching move.
This deal is somewhat surprising in its own right given the amount of money it is, especially since Mozgov got $64 million over four years. That would mark a higher upgrade than opposing teams offering him a maximum of $57.8 million over four years or $34.1 million over three years. But the Lakers may not have the luxury of stomaching the consequences. I can usually find the logic in most free agent moves. The Lakers are unlikely to retain reserve forward Ryan Kelly and reserve center Robert Sacre.
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Clarkson was subject to the Gilbert Arenas provision, which could have allowed him to sign a heavily backloaded deal and that could have proven beneficial to the Lakers in keeping his cap number low for 2017. The group is unproven, but undeniably intriguing – and in clear need of a veteran presence beyond guard Lou Williams. That’s not totally insane for a relatively unknown 23-year-old guard who just averaged 15.5 points per game playing in Los Angeles, but more than anything, it speaks to Clarkson being a very confident young man.
