Portland Trail Blazers buyout candidate two – Nemanja Bjelica
Nemanja Bjelica of the Sacramento Kings is a 30-year-old six-foot-ten power forward. The Serbian big man is in his sixth year in the NBA, but unfortunately finds himself on the out with the Kings, due to new management and a change in direction.
The Kings have long been a dysfunctional franchise, but this year seems different with an exciting rookie guard in Tyrese Haliburton, and a focus on youth.
Bjelica is the prototypical European player. He is a dead-eye shooter at 39 percent for his career from three. He has also been one of the best passing big men since first coming into the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015.
Though Bjelica isn’t a great rebounder or rim protector, he is a nice option as an off the ball power forward who could play alongside a rim protector like Covington in bench units.
He is a smart passer who could initiate offense from the elbows or the perimeter.
Bjelica has fallen out of the Kings rotation as they focus on former top-three pick Marvin Bagley at the power forward positon. Bjelica is a free agent in 2022, so getting a buyout to a playoff team to increase his value makes sense.
None of these three players are stars, but in the three / four position where the Blazers have struggled the last few years, all three make sense.