3. The Los Angeles Lakers not signing Nemanja Bjelica
Instead of signing Kent Bazemore, I would have liked to see the Los Angeles Lakers sign Nemanja Bjelica. Ironically enough, Bjelica ended up signing with the Warriors, the team Bazemore left, and will probably have a better season, at least as far as the three-point shot is concerned.
If you were to only take last year’s numbers into consideration then you would think that Bazemore shoots circles around Bjelica. Bjelica was terrible from beyond the arc last year, shooting just 31.8%.
However, he had three consecutive seasons prior to that where he shot over 40% from beyond the arc. I am comfortable with saying that it was a true anomaly and he will return to shooting at least 38% from three next season, especially considering his career percentage is 38.7%.
Defensively, Bazemore and Bjelica are on the same plane. One guy does not stand out above the other in terms of defensive merit, which only tilts the pendulum in favor of Bjelica more. Finally, Bjelica would have been a better roster fit.
At six-ten, Bjelica can play power forward while also giving the team minutes as a three if needed. That fits better than Bazemore, who at this point, is kind of redundant when the Lakers have both Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony.
Ariza and Anthony are the next-best options for the frontcourt with the shooting guard position being stacked with Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington and Talen Horton-Tucker.
Bazemore obviously is not going to play point guard, so if the decision was between another average-sized wing or a six-ten wing that can play the four, the choice should be the latter.