Golden State Warriors player unlikely to crack rotation: Nemanja Bjelica
Nemanja Bjelica is in the rotation.
For now, when we say unlikely to crack the rotation, I mean at full strength, and I’m not sure the Warriors have quite seen enough from Bjelica yet. After all, the Warriors are six games in and Bjelica has missed ten-plus minutes in two of them and 20-plus minutes in two others.
With second-year center James Wiseman set to return to the starting lineup soon, Kevon Looney and Bjelica could split the small share of minutes allotted to the backup center.
Given that Looney has played better than expected, it wouldn’t be crazy to think Bjelica is then used only in special situations. Bjelica has proven that he can shoot and rebound well, but his defense could use some help.
Also, Bjelica is shooting just 45 percent from the field and under 30 percent from deep. Having an offensive rebounder like Looney in may be more ideal than having a floor spacer that isn’t an elite three-point option.
Bjelica has shown flashes of what he could be but expect less of him when the team is at full strength.