Thirty-year-old power forward Nemanja Bjelica will discuss a deal with the Sacramento Kings, per Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Forward Nemanja Bjelica and the Kings plan to begin discussing potential deal, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Bjelica represents a shooter on the wing/frontcourt, and a long-term fit makes sense.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 18, 2018
Bjelica reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers before informing the team he intended to play overseas.
Apparently, his decision to spend the season in Europe wasn’t set in stone, since he’s discussing a deal with the Kings.
Given that the Sixers will be a way better team than the Kings next season, and players tend to prefer winning to losing, the allure for Bjelica here is likely to be the contract. Perhaps it’s more money than the mid-level exception Philly was offering him. Or it could be a longer deal; the proposed Sixers contract was only for one year, and Bjelica may prefer stability.
Bjelica appeared in 67 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, averaging 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 46.1 percent field-goal shooting and 41.5 percent 3-point shooting.
One thing’s for sure: If Bjelica does decide to sign with the Kings, he’ll be hearing some boos when he visits Wells Fargo Center next season.
