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Timofey Mozgov: The good, the bad and the ugly

By Christopher Lavinio

Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Timofey Mozgov
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The Ugly

It’s pretty obvious. The most horrifying thing about acquiring Timofey Mozgov is his contract. Nearly hours after free agency began on July 1 back in 2016, Lakers general manager at the time Mitch Kupchak signed Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million deal.

What were they thinking? Who knows. Was Kupchak swinging blindly for the fences? Probably.

Mozgov was used as a “salary dump” in the deal prior to the 2017 NBA Draft. It was the main topic of conversation with many teams around the league, understanding what assets a team can “pry” away for the Lakers in exchange for taking on the remaining three years of Mozgov’s deal.

Over the course of the next three seasons, Timofey Mozgov will be owed $15.3 million, $16 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The Nets will do whatever it takes to get the most out of that deal, and now have a contract they have to hold on to.

The only bright spot? Perhaps a $16.7 million expiring deal during the 2019-20 season that many teams look for around the trading deadline.

Next: 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

For now, the Nets have to fit Mozgov into their style of play, make him feel welcome in Brooklyn, and hope his 2015-16 championship experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers rubs off on the young core in Brooklyn.

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