In less than a month, Timofey Mozgov is unlikely to be with the Nuggets. Since the beginning of the year, calls from other NBA teams have come rolling in concerning a trade for Mozgov more than for any other player on the Denver roster, and for two reasons.

First, he’s a serviceable center. When the Nuggets insisted that the New York Knicks include Mozgov in the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade, it was with the belief that Mozgov could grow into being an integral cog in the new direction of the franchise.

Second, Mozgov has an expiring contract, and that is gold in the NBA.