Sacramento Kings Guarantee Nemanja Bjelica’s Contract For 2020-21 Season
Nov 19, 2020, 8:39 PM | Updated: Nov 20, 2020, 11:57 am
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Bjelica, who put up career numbers across the board last year, has had his contract guaranteed for next season
The Sacramento Kings have guaranteed forward Nemanja Bjelica’s $7 million team-option for the 2020-21 regular season, per James Ham of NBC Sports.
Bjelica, 32, has been the primary starting power-forward for Sacramento over the last two seasons. The veteran posted career-highs in almost every category last season, most notably in points (11.5), rebounds (6.5), assists (2.8) and steals (0.9) per game.
Along with his per-game averages, Bjelica had a career-year from the field as well, hitting 48-percent of his attempts. His 41-percent mark from the three-point line ranked 8th in the entire NBA.
It isn’t fully apparent what the Kings long or short-term plan is with Bjelica.
General manager Monte McNair will have plenty of decisions to make in the coming days, starting with Friday afternoon’s opening of free-agency. Contenders could come calling to inquire about the availability of Bjelica, an elite floor-space and above average rebounder.
Sacramento could look to move Bjelica and free up the $7 million in salary cap space, taking back future draft picks or other forms of compensation in return.
Of course, Bjelica has been super valuable for the Kings over the past two seasons. Keeping the 32-year-old and evaluating where the team is come the trade deadline could be the route that McNair takes. But as NBA fans know, this is a business.
Things can change like that (I snapped my fingers, you just couldn’t see it.)
If McNair and company get an offer that they like, Bjelica could be moved at a moment’s notice.
The offseason will truly begin starting Friday afternoon at 3:00pm PST. Deals can be inked on Sunday afternoon. Training camps open up in less than two-weeks.
It’s not your average free-agency period. These players don’t have three months to weigh their options, they have days.
Expect things to move fast, with the opening night date of December 22nd just around the corner.
