Timofey Mozgov Current Contract Status and Earnings
Timofey Mozgov is a Russian professional basketball player whose most recent NBA contract was a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2020-21 season, reportedly worth around $4.4 million, with a player option for the following year that was not exercised via Spotrac. After leaving the NBA, Mozgov continued his career in the VTB United League and EuroLeague, signing with Khimki Moscow Region and later with other European clubs, where his contracts are structured with base salary, bonuses, and FIBA-compliant salary cap rules per EuroLeague transfer data.
His NBA earnings peaked during the 2016-17 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he earned approximately $12 million, including a guaranteed base salary and playoff incentives tied to championship performance as reported by Forbes. Mozgov's total NBA career earnings are estimated to exceed $50 million across multiple teams, with his contract history reflecting a pattern of short-term deals, buyouts, and late-career moves to lower-salary markets.
Breakdown of Major Timofey Mozgov Contract Deals
Denver Nuggets and Early Career
Mozgov was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2008 and later signed a five-year, $33 million contract extension in 2011, which included a team option for the fifth year that Denver exercised per Basketball-Reference. This deal marked his first major guaranteed NBA contract, with an average annual value of approximately $6.6 million and standard escalators for playing time and All-Star appearances.
The Nuggets later bought out Mozgov's contract in 2015, freeing up roster space and salary cap flexibility, after which he signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers via SBNation. The Lakers deal included a player option for the second year, which Mozgov declined to remain an unrestricted free agent.
Cleveland Cavaliers Championship Run
Mozgov joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 on a one-year, $12 million contract that was fully guaranteed and included a no-trade clause, making him one of the highest-paid centers on a championship contender per ESPN. The contract featured standard NBA salary cap rules, with the Cavaliers absorbing luxury tax consequences due to the combined salaries of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Mozgov.
During his time with the Cavaliers, Mozgov's contract included performance bonuses tied to playoff appearances and wins, though the base salary remained fixed at $12 million regardless of postseason outcomes. The deal ended after the 2016-17 season, when the Cavaliers chose not to re-sign him, and Mozgov later signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets in 2017