NBA Draft 2019: Top 25 undrafted players since 2000

Despite not getting drafted in 2010, the Russian center still got himself in a favorable situation. He played and started for the New York Knicks before being involved in the Carmelo Anthony trade package to the Denver Nuggets.

Timofey Mozgov established a role with the Nuggets for a couple of seasons as a primary backup big, known more for his defense and rebounding. That was a big reason the Cleveland Cavaliers traded a couple of first-round picks in 2015 to land him, filling a big need at the center position.

It paid off, with Movgoz starting 48 total games on the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Championship team. He didn’t have as big a role in the postseason, but still provided the needed frontcourt depth for the team to succeed. The 7-foot center turned that ring into a four-year, $64 million dollar free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mozgov did start 52 games in 2017 with 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, but it was clear that he wasn’t going to live up to the contract he signed. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets to clear up salary cap, buried on the bench behind younger big men, as well as recently having arthroscopic knee surgery.

There’s a real chance that the 33-year old has seen his last days in the NBA, but besides a ring lies an effective career as a big man. He showed up in the postseason for the Nuggets and the Cavaliers.

Mozgov made plenty of money, while not having to go back to European Basketball early on. The situation was good for Mozgov coming in and he took advantage with hard work and dedication, the definition of the American dream.

Career stats (454 games): 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists per game