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Cleveland Cavaliers remain interested in C Timofey Mozgov

By Trisity Miller

Dec 26, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov (25) during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov (25) during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Even after a blockbuster trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still interested in Nuggets big Timofey Mozgov.

Despite a large shuffling of pieces (the Cavaliers traded G Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder and received guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks), one goal remains intact: this organization has their sights aimed at acquiring a center and Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgvo remains in their sights, per Yahoo! Sports.

Oddly enough, the Cavaliers chances to acquire Mozgov, or any other center that can improve their port defense, may have increased after the Waiters trade.

In the deal that sent Waiters out, the Cavaliers received a protected 2015 first-round selection from the Thunder.

If the NBA season ended now, the Oklahoma City would be projected to land the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft due to the injuries of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant early in the season, meaning the pick would remain in Oklahoma City.

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However, if Westbrook and Durant remain healthy and the Thunder surge as expected, this could mean a pick for the Cavaliers in this summer’s draft.

The Thunder pick combined with the 2015 Memphis first-round pick makes for a solid return if a team is looking to a deal a center. They’d avoid acquiring a wildcard in Dion Waiters, one that’s expected to be paid handsomely either this summer or the next, and in return, they’d receive to solid picks or trade bait to bring in a star in the near future.

Now it’s just a matter of the Nuggets being interested in the Cavaliers package.

A good sign for Cleveland? The emergence of 2014 first-rounder Jusuf Nurkic. If he continues to play well through January, the likelihood of a trade for Mozgov increases for the Cavs.

The NBA Trade Deadline falls on February 19.

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