NBA Trade Rumors: Timofey Mozgov To Cleveland Cavaliers? Russian Center Gives Rim Protector For LeBron James’ Team! More Trades Coming For Denver Nuggets?

The NBA Trade rumors have graduated to 'advanced talks' as the Cleveland Cavaliers are closing in on Timofey Mozgov, the Nuggets' center they have coveted. Does this mean Denver is now in rebuild mode?

The story was broken by ESPN's Marc Stein: "Sources told ESPN.com that the Cavaliers, who have been pursuing Mozgov for months to fill their huge need for a basket protector, are poised to send two future first-round picks to the Nuggets for Mozgov, after Denver rejected months of trade proposals for the Russian center.‎"

Now Cleveland appears to be the winner of the three-team deal if they can convert the future first-rounder as part of the package that will get them Mozgov.

"The deal, sources said, could be consummated as early as Wednesday. The Cavaliers acquired an extra future first-round pick to peddle from Oklahoma City as part of the three-team trade it struck with the Thunder and New York Knicks on Monday in which Cleveland acquired J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert and surrendered Dion Waiters."

This may be the solution to the dismal mess that the Cavs are currently in. They lost Anderson Varejao to injury and have been playing stretches with Kevin Love at the center spot where he has struggled against opposing big men.

What about Denver? What made them agree to part with their starting big? Is this an indication that they're tanking? CBS Sports has a theory:

"For Denver, why would they make this deal? Well, Mozgov has been great over the past year for Denver. He's low maintenance, high-effort, coachable, a good locker room guy and very capable on both ends of the floor. But rookie Jusef Nurkic has been incredible in limited time, enough to warrant minutes. With Darrell Arthur and J.J. Hickson able to play backup center, and the Nuggets floundering with little hope of the playoffs, the Nuggets can withstand to move Mozgov, especially for a pick."

Denver has an excess of bigs as they also have Javale McGee. They just held back until the Cavs could offer something more and now they have two first round picks on the way.

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