Miami Heat acquire Nemanja Bjelica from Kings

The Miami Heat have traded Moe Harkless and Chris Silva for Sacramento Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica.

Let’s get this out of the way...it is pronounced: “neh-man-yah bee-a-litz-ah”

There.

With the deal, the Heat have taken two players who are not a part of the rotation and turned them into one player who could be a part of their plans.

Bjelica is a career 38.8% three-pointer shooter. This season he is averaging 7.2 PPG in just under 17 MPG. He’s 32 years old and is on the final year of his contract making $7.1 million.

There are several things at play here. The deal could be a precursor to something else, allowing the Heat more flexibility or it could be to allow them the roster flexibility to position themselves in the buyout market. That all remains to be seen.

Bjelica will be a valuable piece for Miami, adding them a stretch big that can play with Bam when Olynyk is off the floor. The Heat have had an interest in him previously and pulled the trigger for a minimal price.