Lakers Player Profile: Timofey Mozgov

By MH
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Updated: October 5, 2016

It’s that time of the year basketball fans! Opening night of the NBA season is just a few weeks away and As part of our NBA coverage heading into the 2016-2017 season the CaliSports team is taking a look at the rosters of both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.

The first player we’re going to take a look at is veteran big man and NBA Champion Timofey Mozgov.

2015-2016 Statistics

GP: 76 (48 starts)

Min: 17.4

PPG: 6.4

REB: 4.4

BLK: 0.8

FG%: 57%

When evaluating Mozgov people will instantly look at his stats from last season and become puzzled on when Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers believed that the Russian is worth a 4-year 64 million dollar deal. While in Cleveland Mozgov was benched due to the small system that David Blatt of Tyrone Lue believed in so his minutes were cut significantly.

According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, Mozgov will start this season with Yi Jianlian most likely playing the backup role.

Timofey Mozgov will start at center. Mozgov vows he will be the effective center he was before last season https://t.co/P8GTrjvhgk

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 3, 2016

With that being said I can expect Mozgov to be efficient around the rim and use his size to alter shots. Los Angeles has struggled to find any true consistency and rim protection since Andrew Bynum was traded in 2012. Dwight Howard and his injury plagued season mixed with Roy Hibbert‘s peaks and valleys left Los Angeles with a void to be filled.

With the new salary cap it’s hard to say that Mozgov is worth that kind of money. However, if the big man can be rim protector as well as provide leadership to some of the young guys there is some value in that. Let’s not forget that he did win a NBA title last year making a huge sacrifice in his role as well as his minutes with the Cavs.

Los Angeles is going to play up and down, but the only way that system will work is if they get stops and finish possessions with rebounds and that’s were Mozgov’s value is.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Lakers and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!