Is Bjelica really a mystery for whom a case needs to be made in this forum? He's a career 39 percent shooter from 3-point range, though he's been below that this season, when the Kings, for whatever reason, didn't start playing him until recently.Then maybe use a little more evidence than one box score.
I don't think it's a stretch to believe he'd provide some much-needed offense off the bench for Boston. You may disagree. But thanks for the advice on posting.
This is from today's Sacramento Bee:
Bjelica, 32, is making $7.15 million in the final year of a three-year deal with the Kings, a figure the Heat can absorb with its $7.6 million trade exception.
Bjelica started 137 games for the Kings over the past two seasons, but he had a reduced role this season and eventually dropped out of the rotation. After sitting out 14 consecutive games, Bjelica demonstrated his professionalism and readiness when coach Luke Walton called on him a week ago due to injuries.
Over the past four games — his first action since Jan. 9 — Bjelica averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game.
“To be honest with you, I work my a-- off,” Bjelica said. “That’s what everybody’s supposed to do when you’re out of the rotation or you don’t play or you play less.”
Teammates have seen Bjelica putting in that work.
“You always talk about what being a pro is and one of the things about being a pro is always being ready,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “Even during that stretch where he wasn’t paying, he’s always here. He’s one of the first guys in. He’s working out. He’s shooting the ball. He’s still working on his body. Even after games, he’d come upstairs and he’d condition after all games.
“He’s always ready. That’s what being a pro is and he’s one of those guys. He’s been a pro for a long time whether he was in Europe or here in the states. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what’s being asked of him and he was ready.”