The Cleveland Cavaliers, still looking to improve their roster, reportedly want to trade for Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov. Reports indicate Cleveland would likely have to deal guard Dion Waiters or a package including forward Tristan Thompson and a future first-round draft pick.
Cleveland is lacking in size and needs an upgrade in the frontcourt. Although several names have been mentioned as potential targets, the Cavaliers appear to be singling out Mozgov as their No. 1 preference.
If Cleveland wants the 7-foot-1 Mozgov, they're going to have to pay. One possible piece of the trade might include Waiters, whom Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders believes could make Denver more amendable to parting with Mozgov.
"... (The Cavaliers) don't have enough to get him unless they explore trading Waiters," Duncan wrote on Tuesday. "Thompson probably doesn't get it done. Maybe the Grizzlies pick (top-five protected and 15-30 protected through 2016, top-five protected in 2017 and 2018, unprotected in 2019) from the Memphis Grizzlies (Marreese Speights) gets it done, but I wouldn't be parting with that if I were Cleveland."
Mozgov's team-friendly contract - less than $5 million this season with a team option for next year - doesn't make him somebody Denver would be willing to just give away. It's also worth nothing de facto general manager LeBron James reportedly wants Waiters on the roster.
A more plausible option to fill Cleveland's need for a rim-protector would be Nuggets center JaVale McGee. McGee is coming off a season-ending stress fracture in his left tibia, but his height and his wingspan - 7-foot tall and 90 inches, respectively - would give Cleveland the shot blocker they badly need.
How much the Cavaliers are willing to give up for McGee, though, is another story.
Free agent center Emeka Okafor, who missed all of last season with a neck injury, also has been mentioned as a possible target for Cleveland.
