The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: Five power forward options in free agency

By John Keeffer

Milwaukee, WI - MARCH 20: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on March 20, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - MARCH 20: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on March 20, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles down the court in the first quarter against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles down the court in the first quarter against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Nemanja Bjelica – Minnesota Timberwolves

Nemanja Bjelica was not a player I gave much thought to until a few weeks ago. One of the reasons he is very intriguing to me now though, is that we can easily keep Derrick Favors and sign Bjelica at a reasonable price.

Bjelica is coming off a three-year contract where he was making roughly $4 million per year.  Last season he averaged 6.8 points in just over 20 minutes per game, while shooting 41.5 percent from three. Solid numbers, but he is not likely to be garnering a contract much larger than the one he already had.

Bjelica is not a player I would want the Jazz bringing in to be a starter, and I would only expect the Jazz to go after him with the expectation that Favors is coming back, and he can be the primary backup. In that particular role though, I would expect him to flourish.

The best way to describe Bjelica, might be as a slightly better Jonas Jerebko. Their contracts are actually extremely valuable as far as dollars are concerned, and if the Jazz feel like Bjelica is a better fit, then they could decline the team option for Jerebko, and look to bring him in.

The Jazz are in desperate need of more shooting, and that is something that he can offer almost better than any other free agent, and he can do it from a position of need.

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