The Miami Heat entered deadline day with dreams of possibly acquiring Kyle Lowry.
Although they have yet to make a big play for the veteran Toronto Raptors point guard, Miami has made a move to add some shooting.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Heat are acquiring forward Nemanja Bjelica from the Sacramento Kings. Moe Harkless and Chris Silva are going the other way.
Sacramento is finalizing a deal to send Nemanja Bjelica to the Miami. Heat, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Miami is sending Moe Harkless and Chris Silva to the Kings, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/qcIwNnme3t
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Bjelica has had an incredibly odd season in Sacramento.
The 32-year was a full-time starter at the power forward spot in each of the past two seasons. But the Kings basically elected to hold him out of the lineup and seek out trade options for the better part of a month between January and February.
Bjelica returned to the rotation in mid-February, though did not get a ton of minutes and was struggling to get in rhythm from beyond the arc.
Still, this is a strong move for the Heat considering Bjelica's pedigree as a stretch-4. He shot close to 42 percent from deep on 4.4 attempts per game during the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 72 games. Bjelica is also an underrated passing big, averaging 2.8 assists per contest last season and racking up 1.9 dimes in under 17 minutes per game this season.
It will be interesting to see whether the move has ramifications for Heat forward Kelly Olynyk.
Olynyk is one of Miami's more movable salaries given he is on an expiring contract. Bjelica can also come in and provide the frontcourt shooting and rebounding in his stead.
This might just be the first of multiple moves for Pat Riley and Co.
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