Phoenix Suns Early Free Agent Targets: Nemanja Bjelica
Nemanja Bjelica only averaged 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this past season for the recently crowned Golden State Warriors. However, his ability to switch on defense makes him an underrated asset which Phoenix might want to pursue.
Being six-foot-nine but with quick feet, he can cover ground where Jae Crowder or even JaVale McGee at times cannot. Versatility like that does not exactly grow on trees.
Bjelica even locked down the often unstoppable Jayson Tatum for a few sequences through Game 4 of the NBA Finals, forcing him to go 0-5 from the field and commit four turnovers while as his primary defender.
You can tell Draymond Green is enjoying his frontcourt offensive fit with Nemanja Bjelica: “I didn’t know Belly could make plays like that off the dribble. I had no fucking clue.” pic.twitter.com/iSEfsW5gC9
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 12, 2021
As a career 38.4 percent shooter from deep, Bjelica also promises to stretch the floor at the very least and hopefully bury a few triples per game. He should not command more than the veteran’s minimum after mainly riding bench for Golden State this past season even after his impactful Finals play.
That makes things easier for the Suns though, who also get a solid insurance option behind Dario Saric if he succumbs to any lingering issues from his ACL recovery.