Report: Cavs have pursued Kings center Kosta Koufos

With the trade deadline just days away, there have been plenty of rumors swirling around the NBA world, some of which involve the Cleveland Cavaliers. Among them, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, is that the Cavs have pursued Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos.

Among Cleveland's various trade targets this week, ESPN sources say that the Cavs have pursued Sacramento big man Kosta Koufos

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 15, 2016

In his first season with the Kings, Koufos has averaged 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor in 19.7 minutes per game. He started nine games early in the season, but has since fallen into a backup role behind All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and rookie Willie Cauley-Stein.

A Canton native and GlenOak High School graduate, Koufos signed a four-year, $33 million deal with Sacramento before the 2015-16 season. After playing at Ohio State for one year, the 7-foot, 265-pound big man was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Koufos has played for five teams in his eight years, all in the Western Conference. For his career, the 26-year-old has averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. The best season of his career was in 2012-13, when he averaged 8.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.4 minutes (all career highs) with Denver.

Koufos would most likely replace Timofey Mozgov as the Cavs backup center behind Tristan Thompson. After starting for much of last season and the beginning of this one, Mozgov has struggled and seen his playing time fall off in 2015-16. Mozgov is making $5 million this season, but is set to become a free agent this summer. If Cavs general manager David Griffin does not plan on re-signing the 7-foot-1 center, it could make sense for the team to trade his expiring contract for a player like Koufos, who will have three years remaining on his deal after this season. Even with the salary cap set to increase, the Cavs’ lofty payroll will presumably prevent them from being a major actor in free agency this summer.

This past Friday, the Cavs were rumored to have interest in Kings guard Ben McLemore as well.

The NBA Trade Deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.