Our reaction too Mr. Mozgov
Only 48 hours removed from acquiring J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made yet another trade to start the first week of January. The Denver Nuggets have traded away lengthy center, Timofey Mozgov to the Cavs in the league’s latest deal. With Anderson Varejao out for the year with an season-ending Achilles injury, the team acted quickly to acquire a much-needed inside presence they had been missing all season and have heavily upgraded. Cleveland head coach David Blatt has previous history with Mosgov, coaching him on the Russian national team and was even one their initial targets last off-season.
The Cavaliers will send two future first-round picks to the Nuggets, as part of the trade. The 28-year-old 7’1 center provides just what the Cavs were missing and that’s a legitimate paint protector. The pressure for Kevin Love to step up and defend the best big man is now removed immediately, as that priority will be solely left to Tristan Thompson and Mosgov. This also takes way less pressure off LeBron James to bang in the paint for rebounds as well, which Mosgov will compliment Love’s ability to grab boards on both sides of the floor.
This move definitely puts Cleveland in the top discussions as the overall favorite to win a championship, but we’ll have to see if the Chicago Bulls and their defense pose a threat to the league’s top offensive team in the east.
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