Just days ago, Nemanja Bjelica seemed set to stay in Europe for the 2018-19 NBA season. However, the Sacramento Kings reached out to the former Minnesota Timberwolves forward and, per reports, have come to terms with the 6-foot-10 forward.
Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania reports that the former second-round pick has agreed to a three-year deal with Sacramento. Bjelica had a reported deal in place with the Philadelphia 76ers, but told them recently that he would not be signing with them and would instead opt to stay in Europe next season.
Here’s more from Charania on the talks between Bjelica and the Kings:
Forward Nemanja Bjelica has agreed to a three-year, $20.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.
The third season of Bjelica’s deal is non-guaranteed, league sources said. After Bjelica changed course on his agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week, Kings general manager Vlade Divac reached out to Bjelica to explain the benefits of staying in the NBA against leaving for Europe.
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reported earlier this week that Bjelica could get major minutes with the Kings next season if he chose to sign there:
The Kings have reached out to free agent forward Nemanja Bjelica about signing with the team, a league source confirmed.
The Kings, who have a league-high $20.5 million available under the salary cap, are looking for ways to fill their need for help at small forward and see Bjelica (6-foot-10, 230 pounds) as an option.
He can play power forward, but given the Kings’ logjam at the position, he’d likely play more small forward in Sacramento. He played both spots with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team he spent the last three seasons with.
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The Kings, however, could offer a multiyear deal for more than the reported $4.4 million Bjelica agreed to with the 76ers.
Last season, Bjelica averaged 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 61 games. In March, Bjelica was a starter as Wolves’ star Jimmy recovered from a meniscus injury. In 13 starts that month, Bjelica averaged 11 ppg, 6.8 rpg and shot 43.4 percent from 3-point range.
