Timofey Mozgov and LeBron James (Photo : Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport)
One thing we learned in NBA free agency thanks to DeAndre Jordan, nothing is final until both parties sign the dotted line.
Thanks to the NBA moratorium, that can't be done any sooner than July 7. Thus, there is still time to evaluate the deals that were reported today.
The first name to get big money was someone nobody expected. Timofey Mozgov, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who was hardly used in the postseason, is the new starting center for the LA Lakers as reported by The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski (at Yahoo Sports).
"Free-agent center Timofey Mozgov has agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, Andy Miller, Mozgov's agent, told The Vertical," Woj confirmed. "The 7-foot-1 Russian averaged 6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 17.4 minutes in 76 regular-season games for the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers this past season, but averaged just 5.8 minutes in the playoffs."
Most of the Lakers fans were not agreeable with the Mozgov signing. There were some rationalizations that other free agent centers like Hassan Whiteside (who did not even bother to meet with them) and Joakim Noah (reached a deal with the New York Knicks) were off the market.
It is a big question just how the lumbering Russian would fit in what is projected to be a small-ball, motion-based offense that new head coach Luke Walton will run. The Cavaliers could not even use Mozgov when they ran their own version of a small and fast lineup.
Could there be a possible hitch to the agreement due to medical reasons? In this revealing article from Tony Cartagena of ESPN Cleveland, Mozgov underwent an "unsuccessful surgery" while he was with the Cavs and the rehab was rushed because the Russian was wary of his contract year.
The article quoted ESPN's Brian Windhorst on his radio show Hey Windy:
"Mozgov had a bad knee and he shouldn't have started the season when he did," Windhorst stated. "He should have been more worried about rehabbing his knee," "The surgery that they performed last summer was not a success but he felt pressure to play really well because he saw a massive paycheck coming his way. It was the combination of worrying about the contract and an unhealthy knee and a changing role on the team that all contributed to him having a down year."
Windhorst was specific with the details and was very knowledgeable of the situation.
"He had a cyst in his knee that they removed. The removing of the cyst didn't completely heal the issue and there's the possibility that he may need another surgery."
While there are cases wherein trades were actually rescinded because of medical issues (the latest involved Domantas Motiejunas going to the Detroit Pistons), free agent signings are usually independent from league intervention. It's up to the team making the offer to employ its due diligence and search up the medical records and other information relevant to the player they want to sign.
If the Lakers were aware of this (given that it's already been made public) they probably thought it was irrelevant. While they would probably get some backlash if they backed out before the contract is signed, as shown in the DeAndre Jordan case, it's perfectly within the bounds of league rules. If a player can change his mind, so can a team.
It's up to the Lakers' front office to decide and the deal has been reported.
