The Los Angeles Lakers last won an NBA title in 2010, and it could take a lot longer for their next one based on the roster construction currently underway in Tinseltown.
The Purple and Gold reportedly have agreed to contracts with free agent center Timofey Mozgov and guard Jordan Clarkson for a combined $114 million. Clarkson was a Lakers second-round draft pick in 2014, while Mozgov spent the last season-plus with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sources confirm the terms on Timofey Mozgov, per @WojVerticalNBA: 4 years, $64 million. Mozgov wanted to start, get multi-year deal. He did.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 1, 2016
Jordan Clarkson has reached agreement on a four-year, $50M deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2016
Yes, the salary cap’s massive increase means players who don’t deserve huge contracts will get them, but that doesn’t make these deals — particularly the Mozgov contract — any less dumb.
By Offensive Real-Plus Minus, Lakers upgrade from Roy Hibbert (76th out of 76 centers) to Timofey Mozgov (75th)… pic.twitter.com/2Q2XsQXYC3
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 1, 2016
Luke Walton is coming from Golden State to be the Lakers’ new head coach, and you’d think he’ll use the same small-ball tactics that have been so successful for the Warriors. But Mozgov was basically unplayable against smaller lineups when the Cavaliers played the Warriors in the last two NBA Finals.
As if it couldn’t get any worse for the Lakers, they still have plenty of cap room to make bad moves.
With Mozgov and Clarkson under terms of an agreement, the Lakers could still have $35m in cap space to use in free agency.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2016
The post-Kobe Bryant era isn’t off to a good start in L.A.
Thumbnail photo via  Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
