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Saw this on timberwolves.com

Tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM, timberwolves.com will provide comprehensive coverage of the introductory press conference for Johnson, Lazar Hayward, and Nemanja Bjelica.

Does this mean he might be coming straight over? I don't know what normally happens with Euros but I know neither Rubio or Pekovic bothered to come over for the press conference when they were drafted.

Thoughts?

I think its because he is thought of very highly, but I thought he never really had any interest in the Nba?

If he didn't want to come to the NBA, why would he go to a press conference?

He just signed a brand new deal with Benetton Treviso so I doubt he comes over right away. Maybe he does a press conference, but I don't even see BT giving him FIBA clearance to play summer league. Unless Bjelica wants to turn around and pay his portion of the million euro buyout right away.

Isn't he playing for Serbia this summer anyway?

Any truth to the europeanprospects.com report on him denying a deal with BT?

With the rumors around his signing with Benetton Treviso being denied by the player himself, Bjelica looks to be very open in terms of possibilities for next season. The 2m09 tall forward found an NBA home with the Wizards now but it is not so sure about what he is going to do. Several European teams are chasing him as well and Bjelica will most likely be a member of the Serbian National Team for the World Championship which prevents him from participating to some Summer Leagues.

I'd actually prefer he stay overseas for a bit. Enough forwards on this team as is.

horaceworthy wrote:I'd actually prefer he stay overseas for a bit. Enough forwards on this team as is.

Agreed, unless Love or Al gets moved and no PF comes back.

Maybe Ronzone asked Benetton to make the announcement so they could secure him. Just read a Serbian media report where he says he will go to the NBA right away if drafted in the first round, and try to land in Spain if not. He was in Chicago during the draft, so I would assume he is going to said press conference.

What's the difference between the 1st and 2nd round for a guy like him? Wouldn't he be able to earn more in the 2nd?

Locked in at scale if he's picked in the 1st, if he's picked in the 2nd he can try and up his value with a good year or two in Europe?

He's not ready to come over and wouldn't get any PT anyway. Better to let him develop in Europe for a couple years to see if he can develop a decent outside shot, some defense, and settle on a position.
Best case is the Orlando version of Turkoglu. More likely much worse.

younggunsmn wrote:He's not ready to come over and wouldn't get any PT anyway. Better to let him develop in Europe for a couple years to see if he can develop a decent outside shot, some defense, and settle on a position.
Best case is the Orlando version of Turkoglu. More likely much worse.

you seen him play that much?

moss_is_1 wrote:I think its because he is thought of very highly, but I thought he never really had any interest in the Nba?

From my knowledge, Bjelica is interested in joining the nba instantly. He's 22 after all unlike Rubio and Pekovic who where youger at the time of being drafted.
This player has had quite an upheaval. Two years ago Bjelica played with an Austrian club and in the autumn joined Red Star as a prospect, later on in the season he was playing pg 15mins a game and the previous season he was the most shining star in the club, playing everything from pg-sg-sf-pf. He made it to the Serbian NT after only his first real professional senior level season playing a contributional role. All things even, he should be starting SF of the Serbian NT this WC. Playing on versatile positions may had gone in europe, but in nba i believe SF is where he would produce the most, perhaps he could spend some time on of as well if gained some muscles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dHnWOZfdd8

Another Serb!

If indeed he is coming over this year(and if Kahn knows this)...I think this is just further proof that all of Brewer/Johnson/Hayward/Webster/Bjelica will not be on the roster at the start of the season. My guess is Brewer will be the odd man out because he is due a contract next summer.

Bjelica seems very talented, i'm sure his transition to the nba will be easier with both Millicic and Pekovic due to also be on the roster.
Interesting to see what he says today in the interview in regards to when he will come over.

I'd be surprised if he's over here next year.

Klomp wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dHnWOZfdd8

Another Serb!

Looks like a good fit as a PF in a small uptempo lineup.

That's what I was thinking. Put him in a Rashard Lewis role off the bench and with his Hedo Turkoglu like skill set he'll be a major mismatch off the bench.

I've seen him play many times, and I like watching him play because he is an unorthodox player. I think he would have to guard PFs in the NBA because most SFs would be too quick for him. Although his playmaking skills are terrific for a player his size I doubt he'd get much opportunity to use them in the NBA, at least not initially, maybe as an occasional matchup solution. He is very good at rebounding the ball thanks to his height and mentality to go after rebounds (something many tall players lack over here), though in NBA he'd probably be outmuscled much more often than in Europe. Finally, his jumpshot form is very smooth, I know I'm always surprised when he misses a jumpshot because they all seem like they are meant to go in. Possible NBA comparisons (style/body type-wise, not quality-level-wise) could be Odom, Turkoglu and Kukoc.

Bjelica has a ridiculous amount of skill, he does things on the court that make you say "wow", he is fun to watch. He is also a great rebounded and passer.

Has to work on his D though.