Nemanja Bjelica

[LesGrossman]

If Flip plans Lavine to be the backup PG, I think getting Bjelica would be the best because of his ballhandling and playmaking skills to ease that load off of Lavine and then he can play more offball

I was thinking this as well.

LaVine should become more comfortable PnR player. I've seen many imes that he couldn't execute simple pocket pass. Teodosic and Bjelica ran PnR to perfection.

You cant seriously compare the Euroleague MVP Teodosic to the rookie Lavine. Teodosic could start on most NBA teams, he has better vision than almost anyone who plays PG except for maybe five or six guys (Ricky being one of them). He also has a great 3pt shot and is ice cold when the game is on the line. He played vs. the Wolves preseason i think? With CSKA and killed them with some 3pters. And seriously i cant take anyone serious who talks about a "simple pocket pass" because in reality it is much more difficult to play that pass than it is in NBA2k14, believe me.

[minimus]

I was thinking this as well.

LaVine should become more comfortable PnR player. I've seen many imes that he couldn't execute simple pocket pass. Teodosic and Bjelica ran PnR to perfection.

You cant seriously compare the Euroleague MVP Teodosic to the rookie Lavine. Teodosic could start on most NBA teams, he has better vision than almost anyone who plays PG except for maybe five or six guys (Ricky being one of them). He also has a great 3pt shot and is ice cold when the game is on the line. He played vs. the Wolves preseason i think? With CSKA and killed them with some 3pters. And seriously i cant take anyone serious who talks about a "simple pocket pass" because in reality it is much more difficult to play that pass than it is in NBA2k14, believe me.

I don't compare Teodosic and Lavine directly. I agree that Teodosic is very good player and playmaker. Speaking about "simple pocket pass", yes in reality = in general is not that simple, however, those passes that LaVine failed to execute were really simple: he got good screen, big man rolled to the basket, timing was good, there was no pressure on Zach, but he just threw ball away. I'm wondering to see what LoBron can bring in terms of PnR offense.

[LesGrossman]

A propos Teodosic...i wonder, will he ever join the NBA? Hes the living example that the "NBA is the elite of the elite" thinking is not realistic any more. CSKA coming to Minnesota beating the wolves, Spurs coming to Berlin getting beaten (Berlin being in offseason prep a lot more than the spurs who barely had any personnel changes) being examples. Of course people will claim the NBA team didnt try like after every defeat, but i was in the O2 arena and i watched them try hard, playing their "stars" >30 min.

Whichever team manages to get Milos to play overseas will get a huge steal.

[minimus]

A propos Teodosic...i wonder, will he ever join the NBA? Hes the living example that the "NBA is the elite of the elite" thinking is not realistic any more. CSKA coming to Minnesota beating the wolves, Spurs coming to Berlin getting beaten (Berlin being in offseason prep a lot more than the spurs who barely had any personnel changes) being examples. Of course people will claim the NBA team didnt try like after every defeat, but i was in the O2 arena and i watched them try hard, playing their "stars" >30 min.

Whichever team manages to get Milos to play overseas will get a huge steal.

I guess If we consider taxes, Milos current salary is ~ MLE, which makes any possible NBA deal difficult to arrange.

[PZiv]

Teodosic isn't a good defender, so to say, hes average at best for European standards.

[FinnTheHuman]

Teodosic isn't a good defender, so to say, hes average at best for European standards.

Are you kiddin' me? He is considered the best point guard in Europe by literally everyone. And rightfully so. Maybe you meant the nba standards?

[PZiv]

Teodosic isn't a good defender, so to say, hes average at best for European standards.

Are you kiddin' me? He is considered the best point guard in Europe by literally everyone. And rightfully so. Maybe you meant the nba standards?

he is best offensive by a nautical mile to his competition. But I am afraid he is not what you think he is, on D. My comment was solely basing it on D, he is magician with the ball on O.

[Varejao17]

Thought this thread was about Bjelica

[Devilzsidewalk]

between Bennett, Payne, KG, and the draft, I'm feeling cynical on the chances of seeing Bjelica on the Wolves next year

[FinnTheHuman]

Teodosic isn't a good defender, so to say, hes average at best for European standards.

Are you kiddin' me? He is considered the best point guard in Europe by literally everyone. And rightfully so. Maybe you meant the nba standards?

he is best offensive by a nautical mile to his competition. But I am afraid he is not what you think he is, on D. My comment was solely basing it on D, he is magician with the ball on O.

Oh, I thought you were implying that his below average D puts him into average PG tier overall. My reading comprehension went bonkers.

[Killboard]

between Bennett, Payne, KG, and the draft, I'm feeling cynical on the chances of seeing Bjelica on the Wolves next year

Bjelly is 3-4 combo. He could be make the team but if he is asking 5 millions to be in the rotation I think is hard to give him the opportunity. At least with bennet on the board. Next offseason we should decide if we are exercising his option which is like 7-8 millions. That and the draft pick we are making can clear the way to Bjelly.

[shangrila]

Bennett has shown nothing so far to force the team to work around him. He won't be an obstacle to Bjelica.

I'm more concerned with Payne and Garnett. Unless Bazz is starting and Bjelica can get minutes at both the 3 and 4.

[C.lupus]

between Bennett, Payne, KG, and the draft, I'm feeling cynical on the chances of seeing Bjelica on the Wolves next year

Bjelly is 3-4 combo. He could be make the team but if he is asking 5 millions to be in the rotation I think is hard to give him the opportunity. At least with bennet on the board. Next offseason we should decide if we are exercising his option which is like 7-8 millions. That and the draft pick we are making can clear the way to Bjelly.

We already picked up Bennett's option for next year (had to do that this past October). I think there's a good chance he gets traded in the offseason, though.

Bennett has shown nothing so far to force the team to work around him. He won't be an obstacle to Bjelica.

I'm more concerned with Payne and Garnett. Unless Bazz is starting and Bjelica can get minutes at both the 3 and 4.

I like Payne but he's a project at this point and Garnett will probably only play 15 mpg. There should be plenty of minutes at the 3 and 4 for Bjelica if Bennett is moved. Garnett and Payne can both get minutes at 5 also (we know Pek will miss some time).

[Worm Guts]

Bennett has shown nothing so far to force the team to work around him. He won't be an obstacle to Bjelica.

I'm more concerned with Payne and Garnett. Unless Bazz is starting and Bjelica can get minutes at both the 3 and 4.

I like Payne but he's a project at this point and Garnett will probably only play 15 mpg. There should be plenty of minutes at the 3 and 4 for Bjelica if Bennett is moved. Garnett and Payne can both get minutes at 5 also (we know Pek will miss some time).

You have to consider the possibility of drafting a big too. What happens if we draft Okafor or Towns?

[C.lupus]

Bennett has shown nothing so far to force the team to work around him. He won't be an obstacle to Bjelica.

I'm more concerned with Payne and Garnett. Unless Bazz is starting and Bjelica can get minutes at both the 3 and 4.

I like Payne but he's a project at this point and Garnett will probably only play 15 mpg. There should be plenty of minutes at the 3 and 4 for Bjelica if Bennett is moved. Garnett and Payne can both get minutes at 5 also (we know Pek will miss some time).

You have to consider the possibility of drafting a big too. What happens if we draft Okafor or Towns?

that's true. Okafor and Towns look like centers to me. I don't see a lot of pf in their games. In a perfect world Pek would be traded then go with Okafor or Towns / Dieng / KG at 5 and KG / Bjelica / Payne at 4. Even if Pek isn't traded, it doesn't hurt to have more bodies. If there's one thing I've learned from the wolves over the past few years it's that injuries are going to be an issue.

[Dewey]

I believe Bjelica will compliment the roster simply due the fact he has some good ball skills and size. We've known for some time he he is not a physical/athletic type. What will really determine his success here will be his basketball IQ, and I'm led to believe he's no idiot when it comes to understanding the game. He is gonna get stereotyped one way or another, either way, he is a decent prospect. Tony Kukoc (not trying to compare) had the same impressions, but with the right mix, he did OK in his role.

[LesGrossman]

I believe people underestimate the potential Bennett still has. I have actually seen several things he tweaked and improved over the last few games. He has become a totally different player compared to the dude who kept chucking long twos, didnt play defense and refused to rebound. Not quite sure where the negativity towards him comes from, saw simliar emotions when Ricky was new. Some guys need a while to warm up apparently. He will probably never be a worthy #1 pick as Wiggy could turn out to be, but he can still be very valuable to this team.

[minimus]

I believe Bjelica will compliment the roster simply due the fact he has some good ball skills and size. We've known for some time he he is not a physical/athletic type. What will really determine his success here will be his basketball IQ, and I'm led to believe he's no idiot when it comes to understanding the game. He is gonna get stereotyped one way or another, either way, he is a decent prospect. Tony Kukoc (not trying to compare) had the same impressions, but with the right mix, he did OK in his role.

Yes, the most important thing is that he is experienced, skilled and very competitive. If Bennet had same desire to win, he would be a star.

[Worm Guts]

I believe people underestimate the potential Bennett still has. I have actually seen several things he tweaked and improved over the last few games. He has become a totally different player compared to the dude who kept chucking long twos, didnt play defense and refused to rebound. Not quite sure where the negativity towards him comes from, saw simliar emotions when Ricky was new. Some guys need a while to warm up apparently. He will probably never be a worthy #1 pick as Wiggy could turn out to be, but he can still be very valuable to this team.

Ricky was good right away, or at least impactful. I'm not sure why you would compare him to Bennett, who's been bad for the majority of his time in the NBA. Even if he's been better the last few weeks, it's been on a very limited basis.

[Worm Guts]

Just checking the stats, Bennett has shot 36 percent in February with less than 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.