The Kings’ Nemanja Bjelica would like to be traded and the front office is continuing to explore the market for the veteran forward, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.
Bjelica’s situation has been one of the oddest in the league this season. Sacramento could have shed Bjelica’s $7.15MM salary in November but instead opted to guarantee the contract.
However, he’s clearly not in the team’s plans. He hasn’t played since January 9 and the team has looked into trade possibilities as far back as the draft in November.
There have been conflicting reasons for his absence, as Anderson notes. It was initially called a coach’s decision, then personal reasons and more recently, back spasms. However, he was not listed on the injury report on Wednesday, when Sacramento defeated Boston.
There never were personal issues for Bjelica, Anderson adds, other than his lack of playing time. Bjelica, 32, has appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 6.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 15.1 MPG.
He had his best season as a pro in 2019/20, starting 67 of 72 games at power forward for the Kings. The veteran stretch four established new career highs in PPG (11.5), RPG (6.4), APG (2.8) and 3PT% (.419).
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Idea
Warriors get Bjelica and Parker
Kings get Oubre and Paschall
Add second round pick if needed
Nah.
Kings want young players
Kings trade old men for young men
Just because you think that’s what they want doesn’t mean an nba team is actually thinking that. Learn the difference between dreams and reality
Dubs would be getting fleeced.
GSW has a $9.2M trade exemption – Bjelica could be gotten for a future 2nd rounder and moving his contract alone.
I expect this move to happen, TBH. Friendly reminder to trolls that Lacob doesn’t care about paying taxes, he just wants to win and its still a shame your fave teams owner doesnt think like that.
GSW have a monstrous payroll. I really doubt they’re adding even more to it this year, not unless they really think they can compete, and right now that’s looking beyond sketchy.
Listen to any of the hundreds of comments Joe Lacob has made about this.
spending. money. on. players. does. not. matter. to. him.
How many times do I have to say it? Why do you refuse to believe facts? This isnt the cheapskate A’s – the Warriors are run with class and dignity and the owner wants to win first, make money second. All other team owners need to be like Lacob. Moneyball was a scam to make owners more money at the behest of the players – the Warriors run in the opposite direction of that.
Also: GSW beat the Lakers and Clippers at full strength already – they’re absolutely contending despite what happens in the next two weeks – you do not waste prime years of Steph.
Lol your barely in playoff picture right now man. Like I predicted, if you think beating a team in regular season is a direct correlation to postseason success clippers would have won a ring by now.
What an absolutely cold freezing take on the Clips lol. They had 1 season together and blew the playoffs. Saying they should have had a ring by now is ridiculous
Clippers all time including lob city, playoff chokers
The years of prime Steph were not wasted, far from it. It’s just that they’re long over. Here’s another lesson – having the highest payroll doesn’t guarantee a title.
Also, Wizards just beat the Nets. By your logic that means Wizards are a contender for Eastern Conference finals? Lol.
You are welcome to be excited and a golden warriors homer. Fandom is what nba is all about. Honestly… I just don’t want to see you get hurt when they get bounced from the play in game.
My greatest weakness is I care too much, I think.
Its hard to put much weight in regular season games considering the quick turnaround for this year. A 7 game series is a completely different beast. I don’t doubt the Warriors can make it a competitive series but you’ve also made it sound like they’re a piece or two away from a guaranteed championship. This Warriors team is not even close to what they had from 2015-2019, and there is no obvious trade target that gets them close to it (Beal would be the closest thing but its doubtful he gets moved in-season and I don’t think GS could offer enough to get Washington to budge atm).
Marty – we don’t want this guy, we need a Big that can Rebound, not another one that plays SOFT and wants to hang out by the 3-point line. Use that DPE on an enforcer type paint patroller.
Get McGee. Also get Gordon for Obrue. Rockets been trying to move his contract since last yr. This makes you better now. Also sets Warriors up for next yr. And you don’t have to give up Minnys pick. That pick can be a stud. Plenty of 3s and 4s in draft.
The Rockets aren’t trading Gordon to Golden State. Houston has the better team right now, so if anyone should be selling it’s the Warriors. Even those who think their owner wants to throw away $150M paying luxury taxes every single year, it’s not happening.
Bjelica averages 8 or 9 rebounds per 36 minutes. He could obviously average 10+ per 36 in a different sort of role, but that wouldn’t be logical. Between his versatility on D—(he’s especially a really good pick and roll defender on the “roll” man, according to tracking stats, and he’s also more capable of switching onto perimeter players than most 4s)—and being one of the best three-point shooters in the league the last two years, he’s not in position to maximize his rebounding numbers by design… but he still gets 8 or 9 boards per 36, which isn’t bad. He’s not shooting threes because he’s “soft,” he’s shooting them because he’s an elite three-point shooter who helps his team win that way.
His versatility and ability to spread the court and knock down threes are a feature, not a bug & overall, he’s a well-rounded player who averaged about 15-9-3-1-1 per 36 on very good efficiency/shooting over the last two years on the Kings, while also leading them in +\- by a good margin over that same time period. He isn’t likely to be a first option on offense or somebody who takes over a close game and carries his team to victory, but he’s a very effective, underrated role player who makes relatively few mistakes and doesn’t hold the ball too long and keeps looking to make plays off the ball. He has the self-awareness and BBIQ to let his team’s best shot creators do their thing and fully accept a 3rd or 4th option role while dragging his defender out to the perimeter (or if left open, hitting threes at an excellent %) or setting picks, cutting, etc., as needed. And he’s constantly doing all the little things right. This is a player who can help any team… he’s not going to be a star, but high-level role players who can shoot the lights out from deep, guard 4s well, plus cover some 3s or 5s, pass well and know their role & not force plays can be VERY valuable.
He only owns 35 percent of the team
The Warriors are a fringe playoff team, so I don’t know how much sense that would make. It’s nice that Lacob wants to spend to win, but he’s not exactly Steve Balmer. Adding another $7.1 million means paying A LOT in taxes for not a lot of improvement. Like Oubre is costing the Dubs over $80 million. Isn’t Lacob already financing this team against the equity in the stadium? Spending a zillion $ on renting a 32 year old to maybe make the playoffs seems kind of pathetic, and like a move that could hurt down the road. The Warriors could actually be a contender next year, so why spend hundreds of millions of dollars on this mediocre team?
The Celtics have a $28.5 million traded player exception (not exemption), and might match that offer, or better it. There are a lot of teams that could, and might, offer at least as much as your hypothetical offer.
Mavericks
That was my first thought too. Desperate for shooting. But I don’t think they have a traded player exception or anyone the Kings would want back.
Also the Nuggets. Bjelica and Jokic are bff’s, and they do have a TPE.
Back to the Timberpuppies….
Damn…going to miss you Bjeli
Fits nice into the 76ers TPE
Bjelica himself can be kind of odd— Sixers were going to have him already— but he angled out of that contract. Complaint is not untypical for Serbs. But he is a smart player and GSW GM Myers should get back to that.
He might be enthusiastic about a trade if he could get Rbt Woodard included since Sacto doesn’t seem to have minutes for him either. They had Glenn Robinson and he stayed healthy for them and is now hitting 3s for the Kings.
“Complaint is not untypical for Serbs.”
Weird statement x%sure.
How many do you know?
Do you have to know someone to know about them? If so, why patronize this site?
I read widely and critically. And maybe complain!
Most people forget about that. Yogi Ferrell did the same with the kings that summer I believe.
I hope Monte find a Trade for him. Good player with loyalty character and 2 good season’s. I think are two second round picks are the best case for the Kings
Guys even in my nba 2k2021 I moved bjelica from the 2021 season he just does nothing for kings on defense of end sometimes he will make a decent play but trash paying him 7.5 million to just shoot 6.5 points a game is wasted $$ should have dumped him in November and eat that $$ or traded for a future 2nd rd talent
Let me hear your Bjelicas ringing out…
Bjelica is a backup stretch 4. He’s not moving the needle for anyone. Plus he’s 32 … move on Next
OK Mr Roots-for-the-biggest-laughingstock-in-the-NBA. Let us know when you are tossing aside 6’10” career 39% three point shooters cuz you have so many of them.
Miami could use him…
ORL should grab him with the Fultz cash.
Many time letting guys walk for nothin’ is better than to hang to them trying to get something for them, right?
Since November. No one wants him