The Sacramento Kings have tried to make big moves this offseason in free agency and after going hard at Andre Iguodala and Monta Ellis and missing out, the team is now chasing Denver Nuggets restricted free agent center Timofey Mozgov to join Carl Landy as signings this offseason.
The team has been interested in Mozgov as well as Greg Oden to help add support for budding star DeMarcus Cousins and with a new owner, general manager and coach, the franchise is trying to turn things around and signing Cousins long term will only help that cause. Mozgov didn't put up great numbers last season with the Nuggets, averaging 2.6 points per game and 2.6 rebounds, but if he gets more minutes in Sacramento, he could be a solid option down low for Cousins and will give the team a solid defender in the paint.
The Spurs have looked at Mozgov and he could be an option for the team if they lose out on Greg Oden. Oden is being chased by the Miami Heat and the Pelicans and while Mozgov is a solid backup option, both teams would rather have Oden. The team could try to pull off a sign and trade, but that likely won't happen now that they withdrew their offer for Gary Bengal, but depending on what types of offers he gets in free agency, that could chance as well. The 26-year-old Mozgov is still very young and developing and the Kings and Spurs could try and turn him into an All-Star, like the Rockets did with Omer Asik.
The Spurs pulled back their qualifying offer for Neal so that might make things more difficult, but if he doesn't find a solid suitor, he could come back and try for another deal. Mozgov played less than 10 minutes per game last season, but that was more about the Nuggets and this season he should get the chance to play more. Kenneth Faried, Kosta Koufos and JaVale McGee took up many of those minutes and if Mozgov moves, he won't have as many players in his way.
Landry signed a four-year, $27 million deal with the team as a free agent and the Kings have also been looking into dealing Jimmer Fredette and his $2.4 million salary, but so far talk on that has cooled. The team was looking into options with Chuck Hayes and John Salmons and that could be an option in the Mozgov deal, as Fredette averaged 7.4 points, 1.5 assists and 1.1 rebounds last season and Salmons was rumored to be amnestied, but the team decided not to do so to possibly keep him in a future deal.
The Kings also signed rookie Ray McCallum and it looks like they may have gotten a steal in the draft. The rookie was very solid in summer league play and he averaged 12.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.4 blocks and as a second round pick, he could end up cracking the rotation this season. McCallum was picked 36th overall and he gives the Kings another solid player off the bench and that could give the team some support if they trade one of those other stars. The Kings are trying to bounce back from some hard years and a trade or two could help swing things around faster.
