Timofey Mozgov is a solid NBA center. He’s strong on the pick-and-roll, averaged 9.4 points a game last season with a good .584 true shooting percentage, plus he’s solid on the glass grabbing 16.1 percent of the available rebounds when he is on the court (that worked out to 6.4 a game last year). He’s a slightly above average NBA big. He’s just 28 and in his fifth NBA season.
And he’s making just $4.6 million this season with a team option for just under $5 million for next season, a bargain for that kind of production from a big.
Which has led to his team the Denver Nuggets getting — and rejecting — a lot of trade calls for Mozgov, reports Christopher Dempsey at the Denver Post.During the past calendar year, Mozgov arguably has been the Nuggets’ most-coveted trade asset. Teams called last winter and throughout the summer. That’s not likely to change, because with a $4.6 million salary, Mozgov is one of the best bangs for the buck in the NBA…
“He’s been my favorite,” Shaw said. “Just because as a coach, he’s kind of like a coach’s dream. He does everything that you ask him to do. It’s nice to see when it pays off.”
Denver is not likely to move Mozgov.
They really are not going to move him until JaVale McGee is all the way back and proves he can take on the load of a starting center — and that apparently will not come until after the season starts. At least.
Even if/when McGee returns to form and we move closer to the trade deadline the Nuggets might listen to offers, particularly if they see a need they can fill.
Even then, you’re going to really have to blow the Nuggets away to get a deal.
They have a quality center at a good price, why are they going to trade him, exactly?