Timofey Mozgov, a late acquisition of the Cleveland Cavaliers after their big men started to fall (to injury) one by one was picked up by the Cavs for the next season but it looks like it will all end there.
The Cavs could offer the Russian a contract extension but with the NBA salary cap expected to spike soon, Mozgov may be better off checking the free agent market and see if he can land a more lucrative deal. In short, don't expect Mozgov to sign any extension this coming season.
Mozgov was of course one of the pillars the Cavs has in the playoffs. With Anderson Varejao and then Kevin Love taken out due to injuries, Mozgov joined hands with Tristan Thompson to hold the fort and provide Lebron James the needed help with an injury-plagued lineup.
While Russian has been known to provide the stops on the defensive end, he did contribute on the offensive end too. He did turn in credible performances in the NBA finals but with the Golden State Warriors opting to go small, head coach David Blatt opted for a smaller lineup as well which even saw Lebron James play some time at center.
For the coming season, Mozgov's minutes will likely diminish. With the expected return of Varejao and Love plus the possible signing of Sasha Kaun, the frontline of the Cavs could end up pretty crowded.
So after the 2015-16 season ends, Mozgov may likely test the free agent market unless Dan Gilbert finds reason to offer Mozgov a higher paycheck. Of course all this would hinge on the Cavs salary budget which could very well be dried up with deals to Love, James, Irving and possibly Tristan Thompson.
And then there is of course the angle of seeing if Mozgov can maintain or improve from last season or not. If he shows another worthy performance, expect the Cavs to make a pitch. If not, well, expect other teams in need of a center to come knocking.
