Knicks sign Russian Center

worzel gummidge · Jul 12, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/sports/basketball/12knicks.html

Knicks Sign Mozgov, a Center From Russia

The Nets have a Russian owner in Mikhail D. Prokhorov. Across the river, the Knicks will soon have a Russian center in Timofey Mozgov.

The arrangement arrives in the aftermath of the summer’s free-agent frenzy of LeBron, Dwayne and Amar’e. Mozgov, a 7-foot-1 center who turns 24 on Friday, had hardly been sighted on most radars. He had been eligible for several N.B.A. drafts without being picked.

The Knicks are nearing an agreement with him in a deal stealthily navigated to the dismay of several N.B.A. teams. Few were aware that Mozgov would be willing or able to step out of his contract with Russia’s B.C. Khimki.

“No, I didn’t talk to him,” Mozgov’s agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said when asked if Prokhorov had tried to land Mozgov for the Nets. “I really focused on the Knicks. And I did not focus on the Nets because the Nets would take longer to rebuild. I liked Mike D’Antoni’s system better than the Nets.”

Mozgov played limited minutes with Khimki last season, but gained attention during last summer’s European championship when he averaged 11 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Jonathan Givony, the president of Draft Express, a Web site that analyzes draft prospects, first reported the deal. He called Mozgov a “super late bloomer” and compared him to the Los Angeles Lakers backup center D. J. Mbenga.

“He’s athletic like him, he has bad hands like him, but he’s more productive,” Givony said. “That’s the style of a guy he is. He’s a banger, he’s athletic, he’s tough, he finishes well around the basket and he can block shots.”

The Knicks dispatched the executive Glen Grunwald overseas to scout him. Later, Mozgov worked out for the Knicks at their training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y.

“I did not want to go promoting him to N.B.A. teams because I know things would go crazy,” Ndiaye said. “To me, he is the No. 1 free agent outside the United States. I did not want to have all these teams calling me and going crazy, and I wanted him to play under Coach D’Antoni. The Knicks are trying to make a turnaround, and I think he would fit in perfectly with the new New York Knicks.”

The Knicks’ deal with Mozgov is expected to be for three years and for about $9 million.

Mozgov is expected to vie for playing time at center with the newly acquired Ronny Turiaf and Anthony Randolph, and a healthy Eddy Curry.

Mozgov arrives with some curiosity and perhaps the potential to alleviate some of Amar’e Stoudemire’s work in the post. Before he signed, the Knicks pitched Stoudemire by telling him that he would play most of his minutes at power forward, leaving Mozgov to push and rebound at the center position.

“Physically, there’s not too big guys like him in the world,” Ndiaye said.
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http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/98219629_A_Prokhorov_compatriot_could_be_a_Knick.html

Multiple reports indicated Sunday that the Knicks are close to signing center Timofey Mozgov to a three-year, $9.7 million deal contingent on New York gaining transfer clearance from FIBA and BC Khimki, the Russian professional team for which he plays.
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tiger0330 · Jul 12, 2010

Looks like a big banging bruiser, good athlete for his size but that seems like a lot of money for a Euro center. He's making more than Andersen and he doesn't have the O game Andersen has.

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mikol13 · Jul 12, 2010

Ok, he can dunk. He'll probably get eaten alive in the NBA. Just my humble opinion

krnxsnoopy · Jul 12, 2010

tiger0330 said:

video
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Dwight Howard? lol

DontTradeOswalt · Jul 12, 2010

He said the Nets would take longer to rebuild than the knicks and he likes D'antoni's system better than Averys , this dude doesn't watch his NBA

anchel · Jul 12, 2010

I wanted him for the Rockets but thought wasn't available until next season. Surely his game translates better to the NBA than Pekovic/Andersen's. Good signing.

SpiffyRifi · Jul 12, 2010

Jonathan Givony, the president of Draft Express, a Web site that analyzes draft prospects, first reported the deal. He called Mozgov a “super late bloomer” and compared him to the Los Angeles Lakers backup center D. J. Mbenga.

“He’s athletic like him, he has bad hands like him, but he’s more productive,” Givony said. “That’s the style of a guy he is. He’s a banger, he’s athletic, he’s tough, he finishes well around the basket and he can block shots.”
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Is this supposed to be a good thing? 9 million for a Russian version of D.J. Mbenga? With moves like these, I'm liking those Knicks picks more and more.

B-Bob · Jul 12, 2010

good lord, what is his wingspan, 13'?
Watch how his feet never come very far off the floor when he runs. Very odd looking athlete.

A_3PO · Jul 12, 2010

Looks like he has decent mobility.

Mango · Jul 12, 2010

tiger0330 said:

Looks like a big banging bruiser, good athlete for his size but that seems like a lot of money for a Euro center. He's making more than Andersen and he doesn't have the O game Andersen has.
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They are paying Stoudemire for offense.

danoman · Jul 12, 2010

Do you guys think that was a Kevin Pritchard move?

RKREBORN · Jul 12, 2010

"Yo that is dope yo. Knicks are backkkkkkkk. Ewing is rebornnnnnn! GO KNICKS!!! World Champions!! LeBron in 2016 babyeeeeeeeeeeeee." - Average Knick Fan

danoman · Jul 12, 2010

danoman said:

Do you guys think that was a Kevin Pritchard move?
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oops getting ahead of things :grin: i tought kevin was signed by the knicks but not yet.

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