Kings reach agreement w/Bjelica 3yrs/$20.5M

[KingsSelecao]

Guy like this can play until his late thirties because he gets by on his craftiness. For him 30 is not old.

Great, Please supply that list of great wings that have played late in the thirties. That's BS. It's more like the other way around. His minimal athletic skill will start to deteriorate. Not the other way around. Guys like Vince Carter have stood the test of time because of their athletic ability. Not slow, tall, lumbersome guys.

 

[KingsSelecao]

After watching some tape, kind of reminds me of a bigger slightly poor mans version of Joe Ingles. Smart player that makes the simple, logical pass/play like Bogi. Defensively he would seem terrible if you just look at his body but he uses his length and smarts well to be solid against wings and 4's. Guards will go around him for sure. Seems like Thibs was not using him right, since he was mostly a stand in the corner guy. I like the IQ and synergy that he and Bogi would bring to a team full of young athletes. Plus if the Kings are trying to zag while the rest of the league is going small you can get away with him at the 3 in stretches. You can also have spread the floor lineups like Fox, Buddy, Bogi, Bejelicia and one of the athletic bigs as the dive man.

Thibs was not using him right. So, Joerger will? Ok.

 

[Double-K]

Great, Please supply that list of great wings that have played late in the thirties. That's BS. It's more like the other way around. His minimal athletic skill will start to deteriorate. Not the other way around. Guys like Vince Carter have stood the test of time because of their athletic ability. Not slow, tall, lumbersome guys.

What are you even yapping about? If he's serviceable for a couple years, that's great. No one should expect to get a 30-year-old and have him for the future. He's just saying he could potentially play longer because of his bball iq and his skills.

 

[joemama]

Last reported were negotiations for a 2 year deal. Sounds good to me.

 

[sactowndog]

Bjelica will be a 1) good 2) great fit if

1) Fox and our bigs will show that have the ability to kick the ball out to open 3 point shooters. With Hield, Bogdan and Bjelica the Kings need to be in the top 10 in 3 point attempts.

2) Bagley can truly match up defensively with a 3. That will allow Bjelica to match up with the slower least offensive players.

 

[Hoovtrain]

And what's better? He can protect himself too... Look at former Kings Afflalo trying to swing at him.

Love how he just nonchalantly puts him in a headlock without breaking a sweat.

 

[Kingster]

Love how he just nonchalantly puts him in a headlock without breaking a sweat.

He does show some moxy, doesn't he? The Kings could use a lot more of that. Also, if he got under Afflalo's skin, I don't think that's bad. Last year we didn't have anybody to get under someone's skin, unless maybe it was Kosta.

 

[midtowner]

Doesn’t look like a small forward to me. Looks like a skilled stretch 4. We have a lot of athleticism in our front court now; I can see how he can add value. More shooters around D Fox makes sense to me. Huge upgrade over Skal.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Doesn’t look like a small forward to me. Looks like a skilled stretch 4. We have a lot of athleticism in our front court now; I can see how he can add value. More shooters around D Fox makes sense to me. Huge upgrade over Skal.

If he comes at a reasonable price I think 3 years is a no brainer.

 

[VF21]

MOD NOTE: The derailment about stretching ZBo's salary has been split off into its own thread - and yes, there is a poll!

 

[Double-K]

Doesn’t look like a small forward to me. Looks like a skilled stretch 4. We have a lot of athleticism in our front court now; I can see how he can add value. More shooters around D Fox makes sense to me. Huge upgrade over Skal.

The Wolves put him at 3, like I mentioned above, kinda in a Toni Kukoc kind of capacity. Assuming that we start Bagley and WCS, they should be good enough to cover his lack of quickness on defense.

 

[sactowndog]

Love how he just nonchalantly puts him in a headlock without breaking a sweat.

When you grew up in the middle of the Serbian Croatian war where people actually died a little court scuffle ain’t much. He and ZBo ain’t backing down from much.

 

[VF21]

MOD NOTE 2: I added a poll here, too.

 

[sactowndog]

MOD NOTE 2: I added a poll here, too.

You left out the great move if Fox can pass and Bagley can defend option...

 

[kingsfan101]

Not sure about this. Know very little about him, and that doesn't help. The head lock that he gave to Afflalo makes me like him though.

If he can play 3, he has some value for us. Else, no matter his skill set, he will rarely see playing time. What's the point then?

Vlade has shown a marked reluctance to take on long term salary. That has been a wise move in my opinion. Giving one to Bjelica would be slightly strange for sure. However, given that we have only 8 players under contract next season (as of now), no first round pick, and won't be a top FA destination in an year when lot of teams will be flush with cap space, might not be a bad idea to get someone if they think he has value.

 

[VF21]

You left out the great move if Fox can pass and Bagley can defend option...

No I didn't. I try not to put a lot of conditions on possible poll responses. I did add one more possible response, however.

 

[VF21]

Not sure about this. Know very little about him, and that doesn't help. The head lock that he gave to Afflalo makes me like him though.

If he can play 3, he has some value for us. Else, no matter his skill set, he will rarely see playing time. What's the point then?

Vlade has shown a marked reluctance to take on long term salary. That has been a wise move in my opinion. Giving one to Bjelica would be slightly strange for sure. However, given that we have only 8 players under contract next season (as of now), no first round pick, and won't be a top FA destination in an year when lot of teams will be flush with cap space, might not be a bad idea to get someone if they think he has value.

If you learn more about him, I think you'll view it with less skepticism.

 

[sactowndog]

No I didn't. I try not to put a lot of conditions on possible poll responses. I did add one more possible response, however.

Well technically you did still leave it out but I choose your option anyway. The Kings will have 3 of the top 50 shooters in the NBA percentage wise (assuming 150 plus attempts) on their team. If the Kings are again 28th in attempts because Fox can’t penetrate and kick out to open shooters .... just plan on banning me now.

 

[King Baller]

Great, Please supply that list of great wings that have played late in the thirties. That's BS. It's more like the other way around. His minimal athletic skill will start to deteriorate. Not the other way around. Guys like Vince Carter have stood the test of time because of their athletic ability. Not slow, tall, lumbersome guys.

Bird and McHale played until they were 35. Chris Mullin until 37 and Eddie Johnson until he was 39.

Quit sending those negative waves man

 

[Iced Espresso]

If he is cheap and can play some 3 it's fine.

 

[King Baller]

And what's better? He can protect himself too... Look at former Kings Afflalo trying to swing at him.

Nice headlock! That tells me a lot right there!

 

[VF21]

Well technically you did still leave it out but I choose your option anyway. The Kings will have 3 of the top 50 shooters in the NBA percentage wise (assuming 150 plus attempts) on their team. If the Kings are again 28th in attempts because Fox can’t penetrate and kick out to open shooters .... just plan on banning me now.

If you say so.

 

[Warhawk]

Quit sending those negative waves man

I chose that movie in the draft thread.

 

[Hansel]

It would be a great signing cause he's gonna be cheap as well.
If we just drafted a sf and not a pf...

 

[Amit149]

It can be a very good signing.
He can make life a lot easier for our young players with his floor-spacing.
He is really a 4 (not quick enough as a 3), but it's possible we can play him as a SF on offense and let Bagley guard the opposing SF on D.

It's not a big signing, but if the price is right it could be a solid move to compliment our core.

 

["The Serbian Sniper"]

If Bagley can guard the opposing SFs, Bjelica can handle SF position on offense for sure. Good shooter with high basketball IQ and good skills. He is good ball handler for his position (he was a Point guard in "Red Star" when he was 21/22, so that is when he improved his ball handling and pass), solid defender, good rebounder, solid passer. He fits well with most of the teams, the question is, can he fit the Kings ? Bagley and Giles need minutes, so if you guys are confident that Bagley can guard SFs, then Beli can play alongside him and would be a great signing! He is one of my favourite players though...

 

[Flopi]

But, the guy will be 31 at the beginning of the season. 31.

No he won't.
It doesn't make a big difference but he actually turned 30 last May.

 

[Mass]

Sounds like the contract is 2 years, 13M with 2M guaranteed for 19/20.

 

[sactowndog]

It can be a very good signing.
He can make life a lot easier for our young players with his floor-spacing.
He is really a 4 (not quick enough as a 3), but it's possible we can play him as a SF on offense and let Bagley guard the opposing SF on D.

It's not a big signing, but if the price is right it could be a solid move to compliment our core.

The other player is WCS who could guard the opposing 3.

Defensively you could have.
Fox/Shumpert Point
Bogdan/Hield smaller wing
WCS/Bagley. Larger wing
Giles /WCS - Quicker Big
Beli / Skal / KK - Slower Big

 

[joemama]

David 'Dubi' Pick @IAmDPick
The Sacramento Kings and Nemanja Bjelica are is talks of a two-year deal in $13M range with approx $2M guaranteed for the 2019-20 season, according to sources.