With his increased minutes and improved play since teammate Jimmy Butler went down in Houston clutching his right knee last month, Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica is doing more than steady a Timberwolves' ship — with victories over Golden State and Washington — that started to list after its first three-game losing streak this season.
He's also making himself some money. Bjelica is in the final year of a three-year, $11.7 million contract that's a bargain in today's NBA. He will become a restricted free agent in July, meaning the Wolves can match any offer he might receive.
Scouts from two teams that will have money to spend this summer asked questions about Bjelica's background, attitude and talent while attending a recent Wolves' games.
The Wolves last fall signed Andrew Wiggins to a maximum contract. Teammate Karl-Anthony Towns is up next for his very own starting this summer and Butler is due, too, if the team intends to keep him beyond July 2019.
NBA rules allow them to exceed the salary cap if they re-sign one of their own players and are willing to pay the hefty luxury taxes. It's the kind of financial commitment the Wolves haven't contemplated since Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell played for them, but that is the price of milk if you're serious about contending for a title.
At some point, Wolves coach/president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, General Manager Scott Layden and, of course, owner Glen Taylor must decide how much they can afford and with whom they can surround three players earning max contracts.
"We've been planning," Thibodeau said. "We're worried about not only now, but we have to be sure we put the best team on the floor we can. That's a big part of this. The biggest thing is everyone concentrating on us winning. We don't want to get lost in anything but chasing excellence."
The last remaining player from the David Kahn era, Bjelica was acquired in a draft-night deal after being picked in the second round by the Wizards in 2010. He played overseas until joining the Wolves in 2015. At age 29, he is is playing like the youthful point guard who grew into a multitalented Euroleague MVP.