Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to pursue a trade for Nemanja Bjelica
By Dalton Sell
Third reason the Milwaukee Bucks should trade for Nemanja Bjelica — Adding more shooting
When any potential target is linked to the Bucks through trade, the most prominent question often asked is whether or not they can shoot the basketball from deep. Floor spacing is a crucial aspect of Milwaukee’s success on the offensive end, and Bjelica is undoubtedly someone who can help them in that regard.
Bjelica has asserted himself as a 38.9 percent 3-point shooter on 3.1 attempts over his six-year career, a respectable percentage for the towering forward. Specifically, the 6’10” swingman has thrived on catch and shoot opportunities from behind the arc.
Per NBA.com/stats, the big man had connected on 39.2 percent of those shots in the five seasons before 2020-21, hitting them at an impressive rate. That quick release paired with a let it fly mentality makes him an ideal fit on the floor with the Bucks, particularly when playing next to Antetokounmpo.
Surrounding the two-time MVP with perimeter shooting has been a formula for success in Milwaukee, and Bjelica could be another valuable piece to the puzzle. Backup big man Bobby Portis is shooting an impressive 50.7 percent on catch and shoot tries this season, and pairing him alongside another lethal shooter like Bjelica off the bench would be intriguing.
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As previously alluded to, piecing together a proper trade package for Bjelica is not without its predicaments, but he could be a realistic target for them ahead of the March 25 deadline.