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Sportando: Utah Jazz eyeing Nemanja Bjelica

You’re saying he can guard 3’s?

I have a hard time seeing him doing anything against an athletic 4, let alone switch in anyway positively.

I’m trying to like him but I’m not seeing giving him the MLE in the modern NBA.
He was forced into playing the 3 last year because of the Butler injury. No idea if he actually did well in it.
 
If Dedmon picks up his player option and our FO likes him, Burks and #21 for Dedmon, #30 and #34 could be fair (others are speculating #21 for #30 and #34 in the prospect thread).


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He was forced into playing the 3 last year because of the Butler injury. No idea if he actually did well in it.

Bjelica did better than I expected guarding 3's. He played off them few steps and used his size to challenge shots. He got beat but recovered fairly well using his size to contest. He tracked over off ball screens much better than I expected. Overall it was an impressive level of effort. If plays his natural position at the 4, then I think he would be an average to slightly above average defender.
 
Bjelica did better than I expected guarding 3's. He played off them few steps and used his size to challenge shots. He got beat but recovered fairly well using his size to contest. He tracked over off ball screens much better than I expected. Overall it was an impressive level of effort. If plays his natural position at the 4, then I think he would be an average to slightly above average defender.
He played his natural position for most of the season.
 
"I may not be a suitable defender but I can kick Arron Afflalo's ***"

sp-bjelica.jpg
 
Looks like were grabbing bjelica. Seems like a solid pick up.

His defensive stats are better than I thought (DRPM, Def +-)

For example, among PFs:
2017-8: 20 in DRPM, 33 in ORPM
2016: 15 in DRPM, 33 in ORPM

Is it possible he gives us the stretch we need and fits defensively?
 
Signs seem to be pointing at us wanting this guy. He doesn't excite me, but I'd take him over Jonas. A decent guy to round out the bench, and I could be wrong, but certainly not good enough to be our next starting PF.
 
His defensive stats are better than I thought (DRPM, Def +-)

For example, among PFs:
2017-8: 20 in DRPM, 33 in ORPM
2016: 15 in DRPM, 33 in ORPM

Is it possible he gives us the stretch we need and fits defensively?

Better player than the one we've seen under Thibs. Will excel under Quin if he's given confidence.
I think that Rubio has told this to the franchise and trusts him a lot. And you should trust Rubio's IQ there.
 
If this guy can bring any of his point guard/forward skills that were originally in his scouting report, be just an average defender, while making 3s (AND not being scared to put them up), that puts him head-and-shoulders above Favors.
 
Bjelica was better than Ingles in Europe. One ended up signing with the Jazz, the other one signed with the Wolves. Enough said.

Ingles playing for the Wolves would be back in Europe by now.
 
he could be a great player for us.

pretty sure twolves did not utilize him well. we know we will use him better
 
Bjelica played extremely well when Butler went down, I actually picked him up in fantasy. Go check out his game log in march/april.

With that said, I don’t think he’s a plus starter at the 4. I trust the Jazz though, and maybe they know something I don’t.

I really hope we can make a play for Harris during the draft.
 
He’s 30 though so I don’t think he has that much room left to improve, then again he has only started playing in the league recently.

I don’t think he will get a massive deal from anybody. RFA status means Minnesota would probably match every smaller offer but won’t go above $6M a year or so. I don’t think he will get much more than that from teams across the league as money has largely dried up (if he were RFA two years ago he would have got $70M / 4 years or something). He’s also approaching free agency at the same time as many other stretch bigs including Ilyasova, Tolliver, Mbah a Moute, Grant, not to mention Gordon and Parker. Arguably Hezonja and Kyle Anderson in the modern NBA too. Teams will have plenty to choose from and won’t need to go over the top.
 
3/20 frontloaded. Do it.

He is a smart player overall and a smart defender. Picks his spots well. He was called the proffesor at Fenerbahçe.
 
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