The Cleveland Cavaliers are finally getting healthy and once again appear to be the class of the Eastern Conference with a 28-10 record that has them at the top of the standings. However, the Cavaliers understand perfectly well what it will take to bring an NBA championship to the city of Cleveland and after injuries took their toll in last year’s NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors there is no doubt their focus will be on assembling the necessary depth to earn a measure of redemption this season. One important decision the team will have to make before the NBA trade deadline is what to do with center Timofey Mozgov, who appears to be a key piece they could use to acquire the necessary pieces to fill out their playoff roster. Mozgov still has the potential to be a key contributor for Cleveland but there are several reasons why it would make sense for them to trade him now. Here is a look at the three biggest reasons why the Cavaliers should trade Mozgov before the NBA trade deadline in February.
His Production Has Declined
The first and most important aspect of a potential Mozgov trade for Cleveland would have to do with his usage rate with the team, as his minutes per game have declined with each passing month this season while his 50.3-field goal percentage is the second-worst of his career and his 13.5 rebounding percentage is also the second-worst of his career. Tristan Thompson has surpassed Mozgov on the Cavalier’ depth chart to take over as a starter and there is absolutely no reason to expect that to change moving forward as Thompson continues to excel as an important weapon that can do a little bit of everything under the rim. Mozgov has never been more expendable for Cleveland and his declining production is the biggest reason why it would make sense for the Cavaliers to move him.
More Important Areas Of Need
Shooting – and in particular – shooting from beyond the three-point line was Cleveland’s biggest weakness in last year’s playoffs and there is every reason to believe that will be their biggest area of need looking forward to this year’s postseason. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, JR Smith and even Kevin Love are all quality three-point shooters but the Cavaliers could really benefit from adding one or two sharpshooters that can help take advantage of LeBron and Irving’s playmaking abilities and consistently score from beyond the arc. The NBA has transitioned to the point where it’s clear a small ball approach is the best approach as long as the right pieces are in place and considering how Cleveland’s roster is built it would only make sense for them to move Mozgov in order to acquire more important pieces including of course a veteran sharpshooter that can thrive when it comes to three-point shooting in the playoffs.
He Is A Pending UFA
Trading Mozgov would make a lot of sense for the Cavaliers regardless of Mozgov’s contract status but when you factor in that he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer it is clear that the time is now to make a move. Mozgov will command upwards of $100 million on the open market in the offseason and that is a number that Cleveland simply won’t be able to afford. The Cavaliers can acquire some important assets not just for the future but for another deep postseason run by moving Mozgov now so don’t be surprised if they get a deal done before the February NBA trade deadline in order to solidify their position heading in to the playoffs with a move that makes a lot of sense.
Luxury Tax Ramifications
The Cavaliers are currently at a payroll of just over $110 million and they are heavily in the luxury tax threshold. That means that every dollar they spend above the $84.74 million luxury tax limit, they will have to pay dollar-for-dollar tax. In other words, owner Dan Gilbert has made it a priority for the team to shed salary in any area possible. Mozgov is making just under $5 million but he’s actually costing the team nearly double that, so Gilbert is nudging the team to make a move – especially since Mozgov isn’t adding much to the team.
