Golden State Warriors: Pass or pursue on three NBA trade deadline targets
By Dalton Sell
Should the Golden State Warriors pass on or pursue rumored trade target Nemanja Bjelica?
While the Golden State Warriors will likely stay away from Kristaps Porzingis, that does not mean they are shying away from pursuing frontcourt talent, specifically Nemanja Bjelica.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania ($$), the Warriors are among several other contending teams looking to acquire the veteran forward from the Sacramento Kings before the deadline.
Bjelica is currently lodged in a tough spot with the Kings, playing the fewest minutes of his career at 17.7 per game. With the team shifting to a youth-driven movement, the 32-year-old has only made 20 appearances, and his numbers have not been the most impressive because of it. In his limited minutes this season, he is averaging 8.3 points on .480/.326/.800 shooting splits, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
Although his numbers are not the most eye-popping, the interest in Bjelica from contenders makes genuine sense. The swingman is a serviceable shooter at the power forward position, knocking down 39 percent of his shots from behind the arc in his career. That floor spacing could help any team in the hunt for more shooting, particularly a Golden State team that is hitting just 36.4 percent of their 3-pointers this season, the 16th best mark in the league.
Furthermore, Bjelica is also on a relatively affordable expiring contract, making $7.2 million this season. If the Warriors are looking to add a sharpshooting veteran, this move could make sense for them. He would be a low-risk, high-reward option for Golden State to bring off the bench to bolster their chances at making a playoff run this season.