Lakers officially sign Mozgov to reported 4-year, $64M deal

The Los Angeles Lakers officially announced the signing of free-agent center Timofey Mozgov on Friday. The Russian big man will reportedly earn $64 million over four years.

"Timofey is a player who has shown the ability to change the game at the defensive end, and fills an area of need for us at the center position," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a release. "We are very pleased to add him to our team."

After a solid campaign in 2014-15, Mozgov's production took a fall this past season, when he averaged just 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds on 56.5 percent shooting. The 29-year-old eventually lost his backup center spot to Channing Frye, and got just 5.8 minutes of burn per contest during the Cleveland Cavaliers' championship run.

Mozgov's signing with Los Angeles was the first reported contract of free agency, and set the tone for many of the other lucrative deals that were handed out July 1.