Bjelica adjusting to Heat role but gets minutes as backup center

The Heat is searching for a reliable backup center, and Nemanja Bjelica is working to prove he can fill that role.

Bjelica, who is listed as a forward at 6-10 and 235 pounds, recently replaced rookie Precious Achiuwa as the big man used when starting center Bam Adebayo is on the bench. Bjelica responded with eight points, including 2-of-5 shooting on threes and one he made from 26 feet out, and two rebounds in 17 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Golden State Warriors.

“For me, mostly on offense, it’s a big advantage like last game I had the one deep three because I was playing at the five,” Bjelica said in advance of Saturday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers at AmericanAirlines Arena. “So I just want to be on the floor to help my team win games and that’s why I’m here. One of the best organizations in the league, so it’s a big opportunity.”

Bjelica, who was acquired in a trade with the Sacramento Kings on March 25, is still learning Miami’s system. But he looked more comfortable in his third game with the Heat on Thursday after not attempting a shot in his first two games following the trade.

Jimmy Butler, who was also Bjelica’s teammate with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017-18, said following Thursday’s game that he wants Bjelica to “jack as many shots as he can.”

Bjelica, who has averaged three three-point shot attempts per game in his NBA career, is still getting used to having that ultragreen light.

“That’s the only reason why I’m missing my shots because sometimes I want to do so many things,” Bjelica said. “I want to put the ball on the floor, I want to shoot the ball, also I want to pass. But for me, it’s the easiest thing to shoot. Of course, I’m here to spread the floor and to shoot because we have so many weapons offensively. When Goran [Dragic] and Jimmy drive to the basket, everything is open. … I just need more time to adapt and to adjust to the team.”

The Heat’s power rotation has been in flux recently, with Achiuwa spending the first two months as the backup center. Coach Erik Spoelstra then began using

Chris Silva ahead of Achiuwa in a few games based on matchups and eventually Kelly Olynyk starting playing as the Heat’s big in the non-Adebayo minutes.

But with Miami trading away Olynyk and Silva on March 25 as part of the deals that brought in Bjelica and Victor Oladipo, the Heat is left with fewer backup center options.

In the first three games following the trades, Achiuwa again played as Adebayo’s backup. Achiuwa, 21, has seemed to hit a rookie wall recently, entering Saturday with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting, 13 rebounds and nine fouls in his past four games.

Spoelstra then began playing Bjelica, 32, as the backup center in the second half of Wednesday’s road win over the Indiana Pacers, and he was again used in that spot on Thursday. Achiuwa did not play in the second half Wednesday and received his third DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision) of the season on Thursday.

With his outside shooting and playmaking ability, Bjelica brings an Olynyklike skill set to the backup center role.

Bjelica, who is in his sixth NBA season after spending the first part of his professional career in Europe, has shot 38.8 percent from three-point range in his NBA career.

“Whenever I’m open, I’m going to shoot the ball,” Bjelica said. “It’s not about that. I’m still trying to see our offense. It’s very easy to play when you have guys on the court like Duncan [Robinson] and Jimmy and Bam. They know how to play and like I said, I didn’t force anything and I had like five easy open looks.”

Defense is a work in progress, though, as Bjelica will be at a size and athleticism disadvantage against some centers around the league.

Entering Saturday, opposing players have shot 7-of-10 from within six feet of the basket with Bjelica as the primary defender since he was traded to the Heat, according to NBA tracking stats.

Miami’s defensive scheme, which is designed to limit shots around the