Nemanja Bjelica

[Saltine]

Supposedly from what Ive heard, several teams are interested in trading for Bjelica's rights. But with him being so close to coming over to the NBA, the asking price is at an all time high.

I would give Bjelica if any team take Pekovic contract as well.

That would be huge to get rid of Pek.

Not really, we don't have any useful purpose for the cash Pek is getting paid. Who else would we give it to? There is a minimum payroll as well. In 2016 when the cap is at $92 million, the Wolves will have to spend at least $83 million on payroll.
Without Pek, and with Bennett cut, plus our top pick this upcoming draft, the Wolves will be sitting around $55 million, perhaps $60 million with a backup PG tossed in. If they don't sign someone to a max deal ($23 million), they must spend $20+ million to get up to the minimum, essentially a bonus divided up among the players on the roster, to hit the minimum required. Without Pek, they will be over $30 million, beneath, the minimum payroll allowed by the CBA.

In essence, cutting Pek saves no cash, due to the massive cap increase coming, and relatively small contracts of the rest of the team. Pek isn't an issue financially. They have to spend the cash. It might be nice to give it to some other theoretical person, but that guy doesn't exist either.

[Merc_Porto]

^
With 12M$ this year.

I would try this year 1 of these: D.Green / Middleton / W.Mattews / DA Jordan / D.Green (GSW) / etc etc etc

Yes i would give a away for free Bjelica if anyone takes Pekovic contract.

But that its just me.

[Saltine]

^
With 12M$ this year.

I would try this year 1 of these: D.Green / Middleton / W.Mattews / DA Jordan / D.Green (GSW) / etc etc etc

Yes i would give a away for free Bjelica if anyone takes Pekovic contract.

But that its just me.

But there is no reason for anyone to make those guys available to you, other people are happy paying those guys.
And giving away Nemanja, just to dump a contract, that you don't need to dump, is myopic, at best.

[Merc_Porto]

^
With 12M$ this year.

I would try this year 1 of these: D.Green / Middleton / W.Mattews / DA Jordan / D.Green (GSW) / etc etc etc

Yes i would give a away for free Bjelica if anyone takes Pekovic contract.

But that its just me.

But there is no reason for anyone to make those guys available to you, other people are happy paying those guys.
And giving away Nemanja, just to dump a contract, that you don't need to dump, is myopic, at best.

We don't need to dump his contract ?

3 years left paying 36 M$ to a guy in a suit. Alright.

[Saltine]

^
With 12M$ this year.

I would try this year 1 of these: D.Green / Middleton / W.Mattews / DA Jordan / D.Green (GSW) / etc etc etc

Yes i would give a away for free Bjelica if anyone takes Pekovic contract.

But that its just me.

But there is no reason for anyone to make those guys available to you, other people are happy paying those guys.
And giving away Nemanja, just to dump a contract, that you don't need to dump, is myopic, at best.

We don't need to dump his contract ?

3 years left paying 36 M$ to a guy in a suit. Alright.

Do the math. Until we have someone else to give the cash too, it doesn't matter if he's getting it.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19YE4QpTdqmDMzZoV57YEVdovpMkzneEs6lSBszYxM-Q/edit?f=true&noheader=false&gid=19&pli=1#gid=19

[Merc_Porto]

^ we dont have a chance to give 12M$ to anyone else because we are stuck with this guy.

You can say whatever you want about the cap for 2017, and you're right too about that.

But the thing is we are paying a guy 12M$ that doesn't do anything good for us. Even when he is playing. Blame the injuries or whatever, but the true is.

12 M$ for nothing.

[Grits n Gravy]

Nemanja in last game in top 16 Euroleage vs Armani Milano

13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover 3-4 fg, 1-2 3fg, 6-6 ft

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXWq7DTJjIo[/youtube]

[Note30]

Nemanja in last game in top 16 Euroleage vs Armani Milano

13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover 3-4 fg, 1-2 3fg, 6-6 ft

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXWq7DTJjIo[/youtube]

Is that a lot? Doesn't really even seem nba worthy at all. Didn't evan turner post this like a night ago?

[UcanUwill]

Nemanja in last game in top 16 Euroleage vs Armani Milano

13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover 3-4 fg, 1-2 3fg, 6-6 ft

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXWq7DTJjIo[/youtube]

Is that a lot? Doesn't really even seem nba worthy at all. Didn't evan turner post this like a night ago?

Thats a very very good stat line. Euroleague game is different from the NBA, it is slower, there is less scoring, less rebounds, less assists, not forgetting assist rules are different to begin with (it is more difficult to get assist).

13 points is decent, 9 rebounds is a lot and 6 assists is a lot as well, especially for a guy who is not a PG (even for a PG 6 assists is quite a lot in the Euroleague).

I can give you a bit of context. There are only 16 (qualified players according Euroleague.net) Euroleague players who are averaging over 13 points per game, and there is only one player who is averaging over 9 rebounds per game, and there are only two players who are averaging over 6 assists per game.

Of course, if more players played over 30 minutes per game (Bjelica played 32 minutes last night), there would be more players with over 13 points and 6 assists... but the bottom line, 13/9/6 line in the Euroleague game is very impressive. If he averaged that, he would probably be number 1 MVP candidate.

Nikola Pekovic's Euroleague''s career averages are : 11.7 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
Ricky Rubio;s Euroleague career averages are : 5.5 ppg. and 3.5 apg.

So you can see the difference. European statlines are far less impressive on average. Boban Marjanovic is probably this years most statistically dominant Euroleague player, and he is averaging 16.4 points and 10.4 rebounds.

[minimus]

^^ I agree with you about Bjelica talent and production. However we should understand that Pek and Rubio were on different stages of careers. Bjelica is European veteran. And I expect that he can translate his international experience into NBA. I am very excited about his possible playing for our team. I hope that his competitive style will help him to overcome any difficulties.

[UcanUwill]

^^ I agree with you about Bjelica talent and production. However we should understand that Pek and Rubio were on different stages of careers. Bjelica is European veteran. And I expect that he can translate his international experience into NBA. I am very excited about his possible playing for our team. I hope that his competitive style will help him to overcome any difficulties.

I wouldn't say Bjelica is more of the veteran than Pekovic was. Pekovic was 24 before entering the league, 5 years in the Euroleague, second year on Panathinaikas, PAO was a powerhouse at the time. He put 14.8 points per game his final year, thats very impressive. I listed his career averages, his first 2 years lessens his stats a little bit, so theres that.

Just wanted to show how European basketball differs from the NBA. Nobody is putting NBA star caliber stat lines over there, the game is just so much more balanced and slower.

[FinnTheHuman]

Just wanted to show how European basketball differs from the NBA. Nobody is putting NBA star caliber stat lines over there, the game is just so much more balanced and slower.

Yeah, there are not nearly as much go to scorers in Europe, isolations are really rare, it is more about the other ways of creating, obviously a lot of pick n roll but also a lot of emphasis on abusing certain match ups and moving the ball. There never was a truly dominant European player, probably because the very best ones usually go to the NBA tho.

[shangrila]

Both Rubio and Pek were Euroleague vets by the time they came over too. Rubio had, what, 8 years of professional experience?

[Sunsss]

Your assistant GM Rob Babcock was watching the game from the front row yesterday and check out what happened at 24:02:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtdNauorqU0[/youtube]

[JimBreuer45]

For the first time ever, I'm thinking Bjelica could be open to coming to the NBA this offseason.

He has a $1.5mil buyout and is projected to earn something similar to what the Bulls gave Mirotic (3yrs-16.5mil). Still interested (Bjelica is averaging 12.6p 8.1r and shooting 38.6% from 3pt range)?

If Budinger opts in, the Wolves will come in an estimated $11.5mil under the cap.

If he is signed, the Wolves have several options in the draft. They could draft any position since his spot, PF, would suddenly be pretty deep with Payne/Garnett/Bjelica/Bennett (yes, I believe KG comes back at a reduced rate).

If Bjelica signs, I'd still want Okafor. Outside of him I'd pick Russell and groom him to take over for KMart in to years.

I'm not one to speculate on future rosters very much, but the following roster looks very competetive and is a very real possibilty...

Rubio-----Lavine----------Brown
Martin----Russell----------Muhammad
Wiggins---Muhammad----Budinger
Bjelica----Payne----------Garnett-------Bennett
Pekovic---Dieng-----------Hamilton

GONE: Hummell, Neal

[Macho]

Using Bjelica just as a stretch 4 would be such a waste, the guy is so skilled with the ball and can do so much more.

[AQuintus]

Rubio-----Lavine----------Brown
Martin----Russell----------Muhammad
Wiggins---Muhammad----Budinger
Bjelica----Payne----------Garnett-------Bennett
Pekovic---Dieng-----------Hamilton

GONE: Hummell, Neal

Drafting Russell and sticking him behind Martin....

LaVine still at backup PG...

A wing rotation of Wiggins, Martin, Shabazz, and Russell (someone is going to get no where near as many minutes as they should)...

Pekovic still starting at C...

The only Big Man addition being Bjelica...

That's pretty much my nightmare offseason.

[JimBreuer45]

Drafting Russell and sticking him behind Martin....

LaVine still at backup PG...

A wing rotation of Wiggins, Martin, Shabazz, and Russell (someone is going to get no where near as many minutes as they should)...

Pekovic still starting at C...

The only Big Man addition being Bjelica...

That's pretty much my nightmare offseason.

Again, I'm stunned how many people don't appreciate KM. We should draft a 19-yr old and start him over the NBA's current 14th leading scorer?

Having 4 guys capable of playing the 2 and 3 is not a bad problem to have. As Wolves fans know all to well, we WILL have injuries.

Pekovic isn't going anywhere, unfortunately. Who cares whether he starts or comes off the bench, he's going to play.

If we sign Bjelica (approx 5mil a year) and our top-5 draft pick (5mil a year) that leaves us a whopping 1.5mil to sign probably two bench players. KG MIGHT do us a solid and sign for a couple mil. Now we're done and still need a couple bench players, which would cost a minimum of 750k each. We simply don't have the cap space to go sign anyone else.

We all want to be Cleveland and sign two All Stars and a former Sixth Man of the Year, but it just isn't realistic.

[JimBreuer45]

And, obviously, Lavine is going to play PG. Why? BECAUSE HE WAS DRAFTED TO PLAY POINT AND HE'S BEEN DOING IT ALL YEAR! He was even running the point when him and Brown were in at the same time. He's a PG folks.

[Note30]

Drafting Russell and sticking him behind Martin....

LaVine still at backup PG...

A wing rotation of Wiggins, Martin, Shabazz, and Russell (someone is going to get no where near as many minutes as they should)...

Pekovic still starting at C...

The only Big Man addition being Bjelica...

That's pretty much my nightmare offseason.

Again, I'm stunned how many people don't appreciate KM. We should draft a 19-yr old and start him over the NBA's current 14th leading scorer?

Having 4 guys capable of playing the 2 and 3 is not a bad problem to have. As Wolves fans know all to well, we WILL have injuries.

Pekovic isn't going anywhere, unfortunately. Who cares whether he starts or comes off the bench, he's going to play.

If we sign Bjelica (approx 5mil a year) and our top-5 draft pick (5mil a year) that leaves us a whopping 1.5mil to sign probably two bench players. KG MIGHT do us a solid and sign for a couple mil. Now we're done and still need a couple bench players, which would cost a minimum of 750k each. We simply don't have the cap space to go sign anyone else.

We all want to be Cleveland and sign two All Stars and a former Sixth Man of the Year, but it just isn't realistic.

Because growth reasons. What good does it do us to play a guy not part of our core 30 minutes a game. I'd want all of our rookies to play similar minutes to Wiggins so we can develop them and get our core strong quickly. Having KMart doesn't benefit us in anyway.

Its simple logic. If KMart isn't a part of our future at the age of 32, then why should we give him minutes. There are plenty of playoff teams and contenders that would love to have him and would probably give us something decent in return.