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NBA: Pending Free Agents Who Need A Change Of Scenery

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 7, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) fight for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Raptors 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) fight for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Raptors 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Timofey Mozgov #20 during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Timofey Mozgov #20 during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Timofey Mozgov, Cleveland Cavaliers

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Position: Center
Age: 29 (7/16/1986)
Slash Line: .545/.143/.716
Season Averages: 17.4 MPG, 6.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 ORPG, 0.8 BPG

The Cleveland Cavaliers have committed upwards of $195 million in power forward Kevin Love and center Tristan Thompson. That’s all but made Timofey Mozgov the odd-man-out, which is an unfitting system for him to be in.

With the raw talent to start for a number of NBA teams, it’s hard to imagine Mozgov re-signing with the Cavaliers.

Mozgov effectively broke out between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. He averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 offensive boards, and 1.2 blocks in 2013-14, and took his game to an even higher level in 2014-15.

Yet, despite averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 28.2 minutes during the 2015 NBA Finals, Mozgov has been relegated to a significantly lighter role in 2016.

Mozgov isn’t the type of player who single-handedly makes a team a contender, but he’s become a solid two-way contributor. He held opponents to 46.5 percent shooting at the rim in 2014-15, and overcame inconsistent minutes to check in at 48.5 percent in 2015-16.

A contending team in need of a starting center could prove willing to bring Mozgov on board and provide him with significant playing time.

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That makes Mozgov one of 10 pending free agents who need a change of scenery.