Los Angeles Lakers: Luol Deng and the five worst NBA contracts
By Jason Reed
5. Timofey Mozgov — Four years, $64 million
Wow, what a surprise. Another inclusion on this top-five worst contracts list is yet another contract signed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Luckily for Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson, though, Mozgov’s contract was not as bad and the front office was able to get rid of him.
It only cost them a second overall pick in the process.
Mozgov was traded to the Brooklyn Nets prior to this NBA season alongside D’Angelo Russell for Brook Lopez and a draft pick. Luckily for LA, losing Russell was not too bad as it opened the door for Lonzo Ball and the draft pick eventually ended up being Kyle Kuzma. Not too shabby, the Lakers avoided disaster.
What the old Lakers’ front office saw in Mozgov I have no idea. Sure, he was coming off of an NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that alone does not merit a $64 million payday. Mozgov was averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds with the Cavs. They paid that much for 6.3 points per game.
Although his averages did go up to 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds, they are still awful. The Lakers paid Mozgov $40,000 for every shot he made in his lone season as a Laker. Ouch.
At least Pelinka and Johnson were able to get him off the books.