Why did we not go after Mosgov?

[D.o.s.]

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Like Kendrick Perkins?

Mozgov is just a really solid center, he's playing against a small ball lineup and is doing what he's supposed to do in that situation. And yes, James certainly helps his situation a bit. I'm glad to see Mozgov playing so well.

Mozgov has been pretty much the same player his entire career.  He saw a slight up tick in FG% once he joined the Cavs, but I'm sure that had as much to do with Kevin Love as it did with Lebron James.  In the finals it is more about the Cavs just not having anyone else and Golden State playing a 6'7" guy on him in the paint.  If you look at his rates though, he has been basically the same player his whole career and his last full season in Denver was his best overall season.

Exactly. The reason no one was clamoring for Mozgov is because Mozgov is not worth clamoring for.

Except for the Cavs who gave up 2 1st rounders to acquire him and are now in the finals.

Yeah the Cavaliers overpaid because they drastically needed to fill a gaping hole in their roster.

If Mozgov was as good as you think he is (and he isn't) he would have demanded a much higher price from any of the teams he has played for before.

[littleteapot]

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Really?

What about Brendan Haywood. He's 7 feet and has been gathering dust sitting on the bench all year.

Or look a little farther up the bench at the ghost of Kendrick Perkins.

Yeah, only thing Perkins is good for now is being a thug and coming into games to save the hide of his new boyfriend Lebron.

OK apparently I should revise my statement.

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer whose career isn't completely over with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Love probably helped Mozgov as well, but the reason Lebron helps guys like that is that he is basically a rim protector himself. Zeller got a bit exposed in the playoffs, but he had TONS of ground to cover on every play and constantly had to make plays coming from one side of the court to the other.

I don't blame Danny one iota for not getting Mozgov. I think on the C's he would be worse than Zeller and also has VERY limited potential at this point.

[Celtics4ever]

The Cavs have Thompson and Mozgov, both have been better than decent, which can't always be said for our bigs.

[footey]

Because he still isn't a particularly great asset.

He shored up the Cavaliers tremendously, but this is a perfect example of a player in the right place at the right time.

Well yes, anyone is going to look better playing alongside Lebron James. But let's be clear, Mosgov has established himself in the playoffs as one of the top two way big men in the NBA.  He really plays hard, he is huge, he has a nice shooting touch, he makes his free throws, he rebounds, blocks shots. I would take him straight up over DeAndre Jordan.  Not sure which centers (excluding Anthony Davis, who is really a power forward) are better all around than Mosgov.

Marc Gasol
Noah
Cousins
Al Horford
Bogut
Brook Lopez
Kanter (on OKC)

and I'm only leaving Jordan off of this list because you're taking Mozgov over him -- Jordan is pretty clearly a better player (if only in the volleyball sense, as FWF put it in another thread).

Here is how Mozgov stacks up to some of those players this season:
http://bkref.com/tiny/atrTa

Mozgov is in conversation with several of those guys you listed.  He is better than Bogut (hasn't that been obvious in this series??), I would take him over Noah (not a year ago, but today I would as Noah seems to have declined a bit), Lopez is always injured, and when healthy is about a draw, and Horford, he is 6'8" on a good day, I know he plays center, but c'mon. Obviously Gasol and Cousins are a notch above. Would argue that Cousins will end up playing the 4 after this draft...

[footey]

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Like Kendrick Perkins?

Mozgov is just a really solid center, he's playing against a small ball lineup and is doing what he's supposed to do in that situation. And yes, James certainly helps his situation a bit. I'm glad to see Mozgov playing so well.

Mozgov has been pretty much the same player his entire career.  He saw a slight up tick in FG% once he joined the Cavs, but I'm sure that had as much to do with Kevin Love as it did with Lebron James.  In the finals it is more about the Cavs just not having anyone else and Golden State playing a 6'7" guy on him in the paint.  If you look at his rates though, he has been basically the same player his whole career and his last full season in Denver was his best overall season.

Mozgov was very effective against Bogut, who is a traditional 7 foot center.  I don't agree with your downgrading of Mozgov performance this series. The fact is he has really stepped up his game.

[footey]

Because he still isn't a particularly great asset.

He shored up the Cavaliers tremendously, but this is a perfect example of a player in the right place at the right time.

Well yes, anyone is going to look better playing alongside Lebron James. But let's be clear, Mosgov has established himself in the playoffs as one of the top two way big men in the NBA.  He really plays hard, he is huge, he has a nice shooting touch, he makes his free throws, he rebounds, blocks shots. I would take him straight up over DeAndre Jordan.  Not sure which centers (excluding Anthony Davis, who is really a power forward) are better all around than Mosgov.

seems a bit premature to anoint him as one of the top two way big men in the nba due to the playoffs. prior to arriving in cleveland he certainly didnt appear that way during the first 4 or so years of his career.

even in the regular season with cleveland he averaged 10.6 points and  6.9 rebounds a game. those are nice numbers, but nothing to rave about.

a quick check showed 17 other big men who averaged more points/game. he was 21st in rebounding in the league. (5 sf were ahead of him.) in terms of blocks, he ranks 8th, 5th among centers.

again, nice numbers. but to label him one of the "top two way" big men in the nba? i just dont see that. instead, i think i see hyperbole based upon being on a national stage. mozgov being in cleveland is ideal for him and his game.

Okay, fair point, hyperbole, but right now he is playing at a level that is comparable to a top two way center in the NBA. Granted the final series is a small sample, and frankly, I did not watch him much since his days as a Knick (I live in NY, not a Knick fan!!).  This is where you earn your butter. Few talked about Leonard until his coming out party in last year's finals. Now he is considered a max player.  Was that hyperbole?  It happens. Centers take a while to mature.

[footey]

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Like Kendrick Perkins?

Mozgov is just a really solid center, he's playing against a small ball lineup and is doing what he's supposed to do in that situation. And yes, James certainly helps his situation a bit. I'm glad to see Mozgov playing so well.

Mozgov has been pretty much the same player his entire career.  He saw a slight up tick in FG% once he joined the Cavs, but I'm sure that had as much to do with Kevin Love as it did with Lebron James.  In the finals it is more about the Cavs just not having anyone else and Golden State playing a 6'7" guy on him in the paint.  If you look at his rates though, he has been basically the same player his whole career and his last full season in Denver was his best overall season.

Exactly. The reason no one was clamoring for Mozgov is because Mozgov is not worth clamoring for.

Except for the Cavs who gave up 2 1st rounders to acquire him and are now in the finals.

Yeah the Cavaliers overpaid because they drastically needed to fill a gaping hole in their roster.

If Mozgov was as good as you think he is (and he isn't) he would have demanded a much higher price from any of the teams he has played for before.

It just takes one team to establish the market, DOS. That's what Cleveland did.  Do you think they now regret the trade?  He may have more value to them going forward than Love. Certainly will cost less to keep.

[Kuberski33]

The Cavs have Thompson and Mozgov, both have been better than decent, which can't always be said for our bigs.

Put Thompson and Mozgov on this past season's Celtics team and they win over 50 games and finish 3rd in the East.

[Rondo9]

The Cavs have Thompson and Mozgov, both have been better than decent, which can't always be said for our bigs.

Put Thompson and Mozgov on this past season's Celtics team and they win over 50 games and finish 3rd in the East.

And they would both become co-MVP of the league.

[D.o.s.]

Timofey Mozgov is a great example of the fact that you can put any 7-footer with Lebron and he'll look like a good basketball player.

Like Kendrick Perkins?

Mozgov is just a really solid center, he's playing against a small ball lineup and is doing what he's supposed to do in that situation. And yes, James certainly helps his situation a bit. I'm glad to see Mozgov playing so well.

Mozgov has been pretty much the same player his entire career.  He saw a slight up tick in FG% once he joined the Cavs, but I'm sure that had as much to do with Kevin Love as it did with Lebron James.  In the finals it is more about the Cavs just not having anyone else and Golden State playing a 6'7" guy on him in the paint.  If you look at his rates though, he has been basically the same player his whole career and his last full season in Denver was his best overall season.

Exactly. The reason no one was clamoring for Mozgov is because Mozgov is not worth clamoring for.

Except for the Cavs who gave up 2 1st rounders to acquire him and are now in the finals.

Yeah the Cavaliers overpaid because they drastically needed to fill a gaping hole in their roster.

If Mozgov was as good as you think he is (and he isn't) he would have demanded a much higher price from any of the teams he has played for before.

It just takes one team to establish the market, DOS. That's what Cleveland did.  Do you think they now regret the trade?  He may have more value to them going forward than Love. Certainly will cost less to keep.

Do you think that New York overpaid for Carmelo Anthony?

The Cavs have Thompson and Mozgov, both have been better than decent, which can't always be said for our bigs.

Put Thompson and Mozgov on this past season's Celtics team and they win over 50 games and finish 3rd in the East.

And they would both become co-MVP of the league.

And then the drugs would wear off and we'd all wonder where our pants are.

[D.o.s.]

Because he still isn't a particularly great asset.

He shored up the Cavaliers tremendously, but this is a perfect example of a player in the right place at the right time.

Well yes, anyone is going to look better playing alongside Lebron James. But let's be clear, Mosgov has established himself in the playoffs as one of the top two way big men in the NBA.  He really plays hard, he is huge, he has a nice shooting touch, he makes his free throws, he rebounds, blocks shots. I would take him straight up over DeAndre Jordan.  Not sure which centers (excluding Anthony Davis, who is really a power forward) are better all around than Mosgov.

seems a bit premature to anoint him as one of the top two way big men in the nba due to the playoffs. prior to arriving in cleveland he certainly didnt appear that way during the first 4 or so years of his career.

even in the regular season with cleveland he averaged 10.6 points and  6.9 rebounds a game. those are nice numbers, but nothing to rave about.

a quick check showed 17 other big men who averaged more points/game. he was 21st in rebounding in the league. (5 sf were ahead of him.) in terms of blocks, he ranks 8th, 5th among centers.

again, nice numbers. but to label him one of the "top two way" big men in the nba? i just dont see that. instead, i think i see hyperbole based upon being on a national stage. mozgov being in cleveland is ideal for him and his game.

Okay, fair point, hyperbole, but right now he is playing at a level that is comparable to a top two way center in the NBA. Granted the final series is a small sample, and frankly, I did not watch him much since his days as a Knick (I live in NY, not a Knick fan!!).  This is where you earn your butter. Few talked about Leonard until his coming out party in last year's finals. Now he is considered a max player.  Was that hyperbole?  It happens. Centers take a while to mature.

He is 28. He is who he is. Two good games against a team that's refusing to guard him does not change that.

[SHAQATTACK]

He sucks ?

[Kuberski33]

You're right Zeller's better.   It's important to have a center who can't rebound or guard anyone.

[littleteapot]

You're right Zeller's better.   It's important to have a center who can't rebound or guard anyone.

Mozgov is barely a better rebounder (by percentage) and is a worse defender. He has never been regarded as a good defender when he didn't play with the best player in the world.

Zeller is considerably better offensivley - I don't even think that's arguable.

[footey]

Do you think that New York overpaid for Carmelo Anthony?
[/quote]

Several teams offered him max deal; Knicks only team that could go the extra year.  Not relevant what I think; the league in general thought he was worth it....Personally I am not a fan, but understand his value, especially when he is not hurt.