[SnowtaParticipant]

I’m excited about Bjelica from what I saw at Euro Basket, but had never seen him play before that. It seems like he fits the mold of today’s NBA’s 4 being able to play away from the basket. I love his ball handling and passing ability and he seems to shoot it well. What I’m concerned with is on the defensive end and rebounding. Will he be able to play with the big 4’s in the league like Anthony Davis, Z-Bo, Blake, LA, Favors, etc. just to name a few in the West? I know he can be a solid role player, but what is the potential/ceiling for Bjelica? I think he’ll be a solid rotation guy this year that could start when KG sits back to backs and retires next year, but I don’t watch much European basketball so I’m not sure if that’s realistic. As a curious Wolves fan I’d like to know what people think his NBA potential is. 

[Dr.RedParticipant]

I think Bjelica is going to be a solid role player to potential starter. He won’t be a great 2-way player, but he’ll play his role on D and will be a good mismatch-type player off the bench this year. He could earn a starting role, but I think the Wolves will be focusing on a future starting frontcourt of Towns and Dieng, with Bjelica and Payne coming off the bench. KG will probably average ~16 mins per and play all of 62 games and Pek will probably go for about 56 games and ~26 mins per, as has become his norm. That leaves a lot of minutes for the young guys, and Bjelica… Will he matchup well with the elite PFs of the West? No! Few do… I think Bjelica has a Hedo Turkoglu/Boris Diaw-type future. He is a bit grittier, but with a similar overall skill set, so he could be better or about the same – hard to say. I think he’ll have a nice career because of his versatility and toughness. But, at 27, he is likely a finished product, for the most part. Of course, he’ll likely get more savvy and develop a better feel with NBA experience, but what you see is virtually what you get… And that is a pretty good player. 

[Dr.RedParticipant]

I think Bjelica is going to be a solid role player to potential starter. He won’t be a great 2-way player, but he’ll play his role on D and will be a good mismatch-type player off the bench this year. He could earn a starting role, but I think the Wolves will be focusing on a future starting frontcourt of Towns and Dieng, with Bjelica and Payne coming off the bench. KG will probably average ~16 mins per and play all of 62 games and Pek will probably go for about 56 games and ~26 mins per, as has become his norm. That leaves a lot of minutes for the young guys, and Bjelica… Will he matchup well with the elite PFs of the West? No! Few do… I think Bjelica has a Hedo Turkoglu/Boris Diaw-type future. He is a bit grittier, but with a similar overall skill set, so he could be better or about the same – hard to say. I think he’ll have a nice career because of his versatility and toughness. But, at 27, he is likely a finished product, for the most part. Of course, he’ll likely get more savvy and develop a better feel with NBA experience, but what you see is virtually what you get… And that is a pretty good player. 

[Numbers_CruncherParticipant]

I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Bjelica this summer. Though he won’t be an impact defender/rebounder, I think he certainly won’t be a liability. He won’t be a the scorer Turkoglu was in his prime, but he certainly has the ball handling and playmaking (so Diaw seems like a good comparison). He looks very good at attacking in isolations versus other bigs. He makes the correct pass and can finish tough shots near the hoop. If his man sags off he can pull up for a pure jumper. I could even see him playing as a small ball 5. Considering he’ll only be making 4 million per for the next 3 years; Minnesota has a very good "asset". As a Wolves fan, I thought they were going to trade him for an early 20’s pick to draft Tyus Jones. Flip Saunders later said he would’ve been a top 10 pick if he was eligible this year, and I don’t think he was blowing too much smoke. After watching him play some I’m glad we didn’t trade him. 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

"Though he won’t be an impact defender/rebounder". Defender I agree,but he’s a terrific rebounder for his position.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 But does he have the strength and/or athleticism for that to translate into the NBA? Or will he only be an average rebounder in the NBA?

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 Well he averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the euroleague on less than 28 minutes a night. Will he have slithly lower numbers maybe,but those are terrific numbers for a power forward.

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 Well he averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the euroleague on less than 28 minutes a night. Will he have slithly lower numbers maybe,but those are terrific numbers for a power forward.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 It is way harder to rebound in European basketball than in NBA. Scola was averaging 3-5 rebounds at max in Europe.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 It is way harder to rebound in European basketball than in NBA. Scola was averaging 3-5 rebounds at max in Europe.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 But does he have the strength and/or athleticism for that to translate into the NBA? Or will he only be an average rebounder in the NBA?

[sitlbitoParticipant]

"Though he won’t be an impact defender/rebounder". Defender I agree,but he’s a terrific rebounder for his position.

[Numbers_CruncherParticipant]

I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Bjelica this summer. Though he won’t be an impact defender/rebounder, I think he certainly won’t be a liability. He won’t be a the scorer Turkoglu was in his prime, but he certainly has the ball handling and playmaking (so Diaw seems like a good comparison). He looks very good at attacking in isolations versus other bigs. He makes the correct pass and can finish tough shots near the hoop. If his man sags off he can pull up for a pure jumper. I could even see him playing as a small ball 5. Considering he’ll only be making 4 million per for the next 3 years; Minnesota has a very good "asset". As a Wolves fan, I thought they were going to trade him for an early 20’s pick to draft Tyus Jones. Flip Saunders later said he would’ve been a top 10 pick if he was eligible this year, and I don’t think he was blowing too much smoke. After watching him play some I’m glad we didn’t trade him. 

[T Rex]

 I heard somebody say they think he can be special at PF in the NBA, but not a stand out at SF. 

It’s probably hard for anybody to say, but I wouldn’t sleep on him starting and standing out like Mirotic last year

 

[T Rex]

 I heard somebody say they think he can be special at PF in the NBA, but not a stand out at SF. 

It’s probably hard for anybody to say, but I wouldn’t sleep on him starting and standing out like Mirotic last year

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 Probably because he is a PF and not a SF. He has not played SF since he was a junior level player. So whatever person said that is a real genius. Also, he’s much better than Mirotic.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 Probably because he is a PF and not a SF. He has not played SF since he was a junior level player. So whatever person said that is a real genius. Also, he’s much better than Mirotic.

[T Rex]

 Do you think the Wolves can make the playoffs?

 

Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, Bjelica, Towns/KG

 

 

[T Rex]

 Do you think the Wolves can make the playoffs?

 

Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, Bjelica, Towns/KG

 

 

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 PF position in Minnesota is wide open. If he is good enough and versatile enough it is his to keep for the years to come.

[herceg_bukuParticipant]

 PF position in Minnesota is wide open. If he is good enough and versatile enough it is his to keep for the years to come.

[T Rex]

 Yeah I don’t think Dieng is some kind of building block that must be developed. He’s already like 25 anyway. Bjelica all the way. 

[T Rex]

 Yeah I don’t think Dieng is some kind of building block that must be developed. He’s already like 25 anyway. Bjelica all the way. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Potential: If you ask the Wolves, apparently higher than Anthony Bennett’s. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Potential: If you ask the Wolves, apparently higher than Anthony Bennett’s. 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I think he’ll be a starter down the line. Not at the beginning of the year because of the awfully old school coach they have,but he’ll earn his minutes as soon as we’ll realize he’s simply a better player than Payne(not close),and Dieng.He could be terrific next to Towns or Garnett. His shooting and ability to attack the rim are great for a Power Forward,as is his rebounding.

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I think he’ll be a starter down the line. Not at the beginning of the year because of the awfully old school coach they have,but he’ll earn his minutes as soon as we’ll realize he’s simply a better player than Payne(not close),and Dieng.He could be terrific next to Towns or Garnett. His shooting and ability to attack the rim are great for a Power Forward,as is his rebounding.

[Author]

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