The Heat are among the teams expressing interest in Kings big man Nemanja Bjelica, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. This follows a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic on Tuesday, which, as we relayed, mentioned the Sixers have also considered pursuing the 32-year-old.
Sacramento has reportedly explored the market for Bjelica, who prefers a trade before the March 25 deadline. Miami has a glaring need for a starting power forward and has yet to successfully replace Jae Crowder, who left the team in free agency last year.
Bjelica, a 6’11” forward, averaged 11.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 27.9 minutes per game last season, shooting 42% from behind the arc. The six-year veteran is also an improved defender, spending the last three seasons with the Kings.
“Belly’s a professional,” teammate Harrison Barnes said, per Anderson. “… This season, obviously the minutes have been up and down for him, but he stayed ready. He’s continued to stay involved with the team, just mentally stay engaged, and it showed tonight.”
The Heat own a 11-14 record this season, having dealt with a litany of injuries and COVID-related issues. The team has won four straight games and will continue a seven-game road trip against the surging Jazz on Saturday.
Riley is probably playing possum. Making the league think one thing while he is actually doing another.
The fit is great, but Myers Leonard & a 2nd doesn’t seem Riley-like for a guy like Bjelica.
There is probably a multitude of ways Bjelica to Miami can go down. I know the DPE on Leonard doesn’t cover Bjelica though.
I know this sounds silly but I wouldn’t mind Bulls signing this guy next year in the offseason. He’s a good shooter, not athletic but he can shoot and be a decent board guy when he wants too. If we let Markkanen go (which I hope to god it happens). Bjelica can be the spot shooter for our team next year. Defensively he’s slow but I am not wishing they sign him for defense. He’s a good locker room guy who is a professional and can shoot. We need more shooting on this team from the bigs.
NO!
Here’s my hot take: I’d take Ersan Illysova on a min contract over Bjelica at this point.
Ersan age is 33 and 9 months
Was born in May 15, 1987
You get him and he plays for you three more years
Basketball Reference is strong with this one.
Crowder is averaging 10.1 points and 5 boards a game and shooting 34 percent from 3 in 27 minutes a game for Phoenix.
Olynyk is averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds and shooting 36.5 from 3 in 27 minutes a game for Miami,
Don’t tell anyone, but I think Miami successfully replaced Crowder.
Crowder was so overrated last year it was ridiculous, he is a long time ham and egger.
A poster told me that you can’t use basic number like that
it’s about defensive efficiency between Kelly and Jae
Crowder is better that Kelly on the D side. Heat did it with depth last yr. It was a team effort on both sides of ball. Team chemistry is a tricky thing lol. Achiuwa is only playing 15 mins a gm. Heat have 10 players playing more than that. I would play Achiuwa and Bam more together. That’s just me. And Heat would do much better with either McGee or Whiteside. Instead of going for Bjelica.
I know he is better. I got the deep Gonzaga roots. But Crowder is seriously not that good. At all.
:D You have dissed Olynyk on many occasions! He just tries to survive. Crowder isn’t that horrible but is not a 4… Good D, great help D in a zone, had a good year last year when Miami was elite. Without him I doubt they try their forwards-up zone… I had to change my mind about him after seeing that and its ability to cover up guard defensive deficiencies. Still, he’s someone a defender can leave to cover another.
Dude…I dissed leonard not olynyk. Now I am dissing crowder not olynyk. I am currently wearing a gonzaga hoodie. I think you might be able to put the pieces together from these clues.
My theory goes boom! Someone (else) takes every opportunity.
Crowder is a guy that can guard multiple positions. He can knock down an open 3. He’s more valuable on D side. He’s not valuable on every team. He was to Heat last yr as part of team. Like I said it’s about chemistry. Tomatoes potatoes lol
Danny Green is less bully, more finesse, but his role is similar to Crowder as well. Green is to Harrass the backcourts of the opposition, hit open shots. Thats about it.
Crowder is a beast at all forward positions defensively & defends C’s pretty well too. Can hit 3’s but lacks consistency like Green, but their shooting %’s are usually palatable by seasons end. Disappearing in playoff games comes with their inconsistency.
I like both players off the bench on contenders. Situational.
Dude…I dissed leonard not olynyk. Now I am dissing crowder not olynyk. I am currently wearing a gonzaga hoodie. I think you might be able to put the pieces together from these clues.