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With the NBA salary cap making a huge leap this year, and a relatively weak free agent class to take advantage of it, we knew that there would be some insane contracts handed out. But soon after the clock struck midnight Thursday, changing the calendar to July 1 and the official opening of the market, we got a doozy: a four-year, $64 million contract for Timofey Mozgov from the Lakers.

Sources confirm the terms on Timofey Mozgov, per @WojVerticalNBA: 4 years, $64 million. Mozgov wanted to start, get multi-year deal. He did.

That would be $64 million over four years. For Timofey Mozgov.

NBA free agency grades: Analyzing the early agreements

You know the guy who just helped the Cavaliers win an NBA title. By playing a total of 25 minutes in the Finals. The guy who’ll turn 30 in less than a month and has career averages of 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Okay, Mozgov has shown he can be effective in the right situation, and he fills a need for Los Angeles. But the deal he received inspired quite the incredulous reaction on the Internet. Here is a sampling:

"Hey, we had Kobe as a champion teaching us how to win for 20 years. Now if we get Timofey Mozgov we can continue."

On Nov. 13, 2013, Mozgov had 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks against the Lakers. Must have reallllly made an impression.

End of workday checklist: Turn off lights. Turn off coffee pot. Feed fish. Don't give Timofey Mozgov $65 million.

Mikan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Dwight... MOSGOVVVVVVVVV!

Maybe THE highlight of Mozgov's tenure in Cleveland - Joey Crawford telling him to shut the hell up https://t.co/siq1tfeNy7

I fully expect @SHAQ to come out of retirement if Mozgov is getting $16M a year.

The Lakers may have been getting roasted for the Mozgov deal, but everyone had to be grateful they made it, because otherwise, the start of the NBA’s free agency period began with a whimper, not a bang. The only other major deal that emerged early was Joakim Noah’s pact with the Knicks, and that news had been broken a full day before (take a bow, Tim Bontemps).

Everything you need to know about NBA free agency 2016

However, while the annual amount for Noah, around $18 million, had been leaked, the reported length of his contract with New York, four years, made some news. And not in a particularly good way, with the Knicks getting clowned nearly as much as the Lakers were.

Strap in, folks. The madness has only just begun.

More on NBA free agency:

Welcome (back) to Miami. Hassan Whiteside re-ups with Heat

Clippers reportedly want to sell Kevin Durant on ‘Big Four’ plan

Thunder hopes to sign Al Horford, reuniting him with college coach Billy Donovan

Joakim Noah expected to sign with New York Knicks

LeBron James opts out of Cavs contract, as expected

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