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2022 Free Agents - Nemanja Bjelica

Summary
Bjelica did not have a great season in '20'-'21, falling out of the Kings' rotation and not being able to make much of an impact for the Heat after being traded to Miami. Bjelica only shot 31% from three in '20-'21, but it was on low volume so the Warriors had hope that he could get back to being a high-level outside shooter, as he shot above 40% in each of the prior three seasons.

Bjelica started out hot for the Warriors, but his minutes declined as the season progressed, and he finished at a solid 37% from three. He fit in pretty well with their offensive scheme, and although he didn't hit shots at a super high rate, he is a decent playmaker for a big and has a good feel for the game.

While Bjelica probably isn't a good enough defender to play as a small-ball center, he still has value as a stretch four. Although he's somewhat slow-footed on defense and not a rim protector, playing Bjelica against second units could make it easier for him to survive on defense, and he held his own on that end even deep in the playoffs.
 
Cap Considerations
Bjelica will be an unrestricted free agent with a $1.8 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. This means that the highest starting salary the Warriors could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is $2.9 million. Alternatively, the Warriors could use their Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to re-sign Bjelica if he demands more than $2.9 million. If the Warriors re-sign Bjelica on a one-year deal, they would have his Early Bird Rights in 2023 and be able to give him a bigger contract.

Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Bjelica as even teams without cap space could use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. Since he signed a minimum contract in 2021, teams will hope to get him at the minimum in 2022 too.

Potential Teams: Warriors, Hawks, Celtics, Knicks, Jazz

Predicted Contract: 1-year, $2.4 million ($1.8 million cap hit) with the Warriors

Actual Contract: N/A: returned overseas

Bjelica opted to leave the NBA and return to Europe and play for one of his former teams in Turkey.

Last updated: 7/1/2022

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