Report: Cavaliers acquire Timofey Mozgov for two first-round picks
The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade two first-round draft picks for Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Cavs will also reportedly absorb Mozgov into a trade exception. The draft picks are coming by way of the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder, with the following protections:
Cleveland acquired the pick from Oklahoma City in the three-team trade earlier this week that sent Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks to the Cavaliers.
The Cavs have been linked to Mozgov for months, but the Nuggets had been previously unwilling to part with the Russian center. In Cleveland, Mozgov will be reunited with head coach David Blatt, for whom he played on the Russian national team. Last month, Cavaliers center Anderson Varejaosuffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
• Report: Sale of Hawks contingent on team staying in Atlanta
A four-year NBA veteran, Mozgov is averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in a career-high 25.6 minutes per game.
The Cavs are 19-16 and in fifth in the Eastern Conference after losing two straight games. Cleveland will host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday before traveling to the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
The Nuggets are 11th in the West at 15-20. Denver hosts the Orlando Magic on Wednesday before playing the Kings in Sacramento on Friday.
- Mike Fiammetta
