Nemanja Bjelica - Hype Thread

[Carlos Danger]

"I go back to this....if the Wolves scouts thought Bjelica was the answer, he would have been here last year instead of Thad Young and Adriene Payne."

You keep trying to sell this point, and yet, it still holds zero truth to it. It's not even a functional thought really considering in 2013 Bjelica signed a three-year deal overseas to play for Obradovi?, who he really wanted to play for.

If they really thought he was the answer blah blah blah. Payne's not the answer. Bennett's not the answer. Garnett WAS the answer and is NOW a place-holder for a possible answer. I don't understand why you keep whining about bringing over Bjelica. It's a good move.

There are these things called "Buy Out Clauses". Most players with NBA aspirations would have such language in their deals and I'd be shocked if Bjelica didn't. If you want the guy - you pay the fee and bring him over. The last Euro star I remember playing for the wolves was this stud:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/timberwolves-sign-center-miroslav-raduljica-to-10-day-contract

[MikkeMan]

There are these things called "Buy Out Clauses". Most players with NBA aspirations would have such language in their deals and I'd be shocked if Bjelica didn't. If you want the guy - you pay the fee and bring him over. The last Euro star I remember playing for the wolves was this stud:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/timberwolves-sign-center-miroslav-raduljica-to-10-day-contract

Raduljica has played total 14 games with around 10 minutes per game in Euroleague. His PER in Euroleague was worse than in NBA. I don't see how anyone could compare him for Bjelica.

[MikkeMan]

Those are all good players. But that's a biased sample not a random sample. You specifically picked guys known to have some success in the NBA vs. taking a random cross section. Again - just look at past Euro MVPs.... The only name most people would recognize was Kirilinko - and as I mentioned in prior posts, he was already an NBA guy taking a year off in Europe (where he not surprisingly dominated).

But even using your biased sample/data a couple of things pop out supporting what I've been saying:
1.) Every single one of those players performed worse in the NBA than in Europe.
2.) Other than Scola, each of those players were younger than Bjelica when they came over (throw out Kirilinko he doesn't count)

I go back to this....if the Wolves scouts thought Bjelica was the answer, he would have been here last year instead of Thad Young and Adriene Payne.

Those are not just random players, they were only great Euroleague players that I found that have come to NBA. I could have added still Navarro who played one season for Grizzlies averaging 11 points with .54 TS% in 26 minutes and Anthony Parker who played 6 seasons in Raptors and Cavs. Two first seasons he averaged 12.5 pts with .59 TS% and got a reputation as a very good defender. But since those players were guards whose game doesn't typically translate as well to NBA, I didn't see any point to include them. So I would like to know whom are those Bjelica level Euroleague players that have failed badly when they have entered to NBA?

Only remotely same level Euroleague player as Bjelica who didn't have much success in NBA that I know is David Andersen and he was already past his prime in Euroleague before he entered to NBA. He turned 30 during his first season in NBA. but still even he averaged more rebounds per 40 minutes in NBA than in Euroleague.

And of course those players that I listed have not had as high averages in NBA than in Euroleague. They are players that were already in their prime or pretty close of it and they moved to the best league in world.

[60WinTim]

Toni Kukoc... Which I would gladly take!

Of course, if we can convince Phil Jackson of the same thinking...

[Carlos Danger]

Raduljica has played total 14 games with around 10 minutes per game in Euroleague. His PER in Euroleague was worse than in NBA. I don't see how anyone could compare him for Bjelica.

I'm assuming Belgrade Serbia is considered part of European League (at least that's what that link stated). So, he played a lot more than 14 games. His Per 40 Euro Stats were over 20 pts and 7+ rebounds. Things always look crazy good when you use Per 40 figures though. Cripes. Anthony Bennett was a 13 pt/10 Rebound guy last year if we use Per 40 adjusted.

BTW, Zgoda had an online chat this afternoon and was asked about Bjelica. Here is his response:

"From an NBA scout I trust last week: Great offensive skills, point guard in a power forward's body, small forward's skills but you'll have to play him at power forward probably to hide his defensive limitations, a backup power forward in the NBA.
by Jerry Zgoda 1:04 PM"

My opinion hasn't changed. He's not the answer to our PF needs. The last thing we need right now is another backup PF/question mark. You guys can keep your opinion he's the next great thing. We'll agree to disagree and move on.

[Monster]

Raduljica has played total 14 games with around 10 minutes per game in Euroleague. His PER in Euroleague was worse than in NBA. I don't see how anyone could compare him for Bjelica.

I'm assuming Belgrade Serbia is considered part of European League (at least that's what that link stated). So, he played a lot more than 14 games. His Per 40 Euro Stats were over 20 pts and 7+ rebounds. Things always look crazy good when you use Per 40 figures though. Cripes. Anthony Bennett was a 13 pt/10 Rebound guy last year if we use Per 40 adjusted.

BTW, Zgoda had an online chat this afternoon and was asked about Bjelica. Here is his response:

"From an NBA scout I trust last week: Great offensive skills, point guard in a power forward's body, small forward's skills but you'll have to play him at power forward probably to hide his defensive limitations, a backup power forward in the NBA.
by Jerry Zgoda 1:04 PM"

My opinion hasn't changed. He's not the answer to our PF needs. The last thing we need right now is another backup PF/question mark. You guys can keep your opinion he's the next great thing. We'll agree to disagree and move on.

Your position that he is not the answer at PF is a very sensible position that quite frankly I likely agree with. I think he is a useful player but if he really isn't going to be the long term starter if you can get some reasonable return for him because of where this team is at in the re-re-rebuilding process. Then I think you do it. This is just another example of what value does he bring you back as opposites to keeping him. He seems like a guy that some good teams could really value.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm a fan of Bjelica. I think that's pretty well-documented. Would you do this trade, though?

HOU: T. Jones, No. 18 overall (from NO)
MIN: rights to N. Bjelica, No. 31 and 36 overall picks

The Rockets can replace Jones' length and defensive presence with Capela, but they don't have the traditional stretch-big that they are probably looking for to pair next to Howard in their uptempo, 3P-shooting offense. Bjelica would make so much sense for them. Essentially, he plays the same game/role Jones does just without the blocked shots and a legitimate jumper.

For Minnesota, it gives them a somewhat more-proven PF to add to the puzzle and the guy's only 23-years old. He'd compliment whatever big we picked in June well and he would be a welcomed defensive presence in our frontcourt (1.8 BPG this year).

I've been trying to come up with a way for the Wolves to get Jones because I see him as a tremendously good fit here, and that seems like it could work for both teams. Also, HOU gets out of the guaranteed contract to a 1st-rounder, signs Bjelica for a much cheaper deal than Jones will likely command after the 2015-16 season AND adds two high 2nd-rounders, which they'll probably use better than we ever could.

I've posted plenty of trade ideas on this board, but this one's probably one of my favorite.

Edit: Jones' agent is Arn Tellem, who also represents Gorgui Dieng.

[Monster]

I'd do that trade for either jones or the #18 pick plus one 2nd rounder so if we got both of those things for those assets for those 2 picks and NB. Wow sign me up. :)

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I don't see anyway the Rockets do that trade. Jones is their starting 4, he stretches the floor and protects the rim. You might be able to do NB and the picks for only Jones, but not Jones and the pick. Jones is an underrated player. He's just a good basketball player and next to Dwight they have a good starting frontcourt. He averaged almost 12/7/2 in 27 MPG's which is good production next to Dwight. Bump him up to 34-36 MPG's and he might be a 16/9/2.5 guy (that's his per 36 line). That's worth more than an unknown Euro and 2 2nds let alone throwing in a first round pick.

[MikkeMan]

I don't see anyway the Rockets do that trade. Jones is their starting 4, he stretches the floor and protects the rim. You might be able to do NB and the picks for only Jones, but not Jones and the pick. Jones is an underrated player. He's just a good basketball player and next to Dwight they have a good starting frontcourt. He averaged almost 12/7/2 in 27 MPG's which is good production next to Dwight. Bump him up to 34-36 MPG's and he might be a 16/9/2.5 guy (that's his per 36 line). That's worth more than an unknown Euro and 2 2nds let alone throwing in a first round pick.

Jones lost his starting job during his injury to Motiejunas, who did a pretty good job this season. Motiejunas is also better three point shooter than Jones, so they might think that he is better fit to play next to Dwight. After Jones came back from injury, he got opportunity to start only when either Dwight or Motiejunas was injured.

Now it seems that during playoffs Jones lost again starting job, he got after Motiejunas was injured. his time it was for Josh Smith. So I see that it is possible that Houston would trade him but I doubt that Morey would do the trade that Cam suggested unless they value Bjelica really high.

BTW. Motiejunas is maybe pretty good comparison to Bjelica. I just think that Bjelica is little better in almost all areas than Motiejunas. He has better handle, is better passer, shooter and rebounder. He is also more athletic but Motiejunas is maybe stronger and better post scorer.