The Minnesota Timberwolves have been working on a contract extension with center Nikola Pekovic for quite some time this offseason and as the deal is slowly moving forward, many have wondered whether the team will consider trading him if the demands for money get too out of control.
Reports have come out that the two sides are close to a deal but not that close on money and with Flip Saunders trying to intervene, the clock is ticking on a deal as the preseason gets closer. Pekovic already has confirmed to be missing from the EuroBasket championships to ensure the deal gets done and he doesn't get hurt and now the two sides need to find some common ground on money. According to Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com, the deal is hung up on money with Pekovic's agent asking for upwards of $15 million per season, while the Wolves are looking at about $12 million.
The team loves Pekovic and what he brings to the table alongside Kevin Love in the frontcourt, but if things keep moving this way, they may decide to trade him. The Wolves offered a four-year, $48 million extension and if Pekovic does not take a deal, he could accept a $6 million one-year qualifying offer that would allow him to be a free agent again next year. The 27-year-old has some injury issues in his past and the team could put in some incentives to get the money where he wants it, but if something doesn't happen soon, Wolfson writes about some trade options that could be explored.
One that has popped up is for Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge, who averaged over 20 points last season and has been mentioned in trade rumors all summer. Wolfson writes that the team could package Derrick Williams, who also was mentioned in rumors this summer, with Pekovic for Aldridge, then the team could try and extend him when his deal comes up, as he is about the same age as Pekovic is. Two years ago Pekovic averaged 14 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and last season he was even better, averaging 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 62 regular-season starts for the Wolves. Another reason the deal could be held up according to Wolfson is that Rubio will also be needed an extension soon and that could complicate things for Pek.
Andrei Kirilenko departed the team this year and they also lost Luke Ridnour through a trade and now the Timberwolves will rely on rookie Shabazz Muhammad as well as the return of Corey Brewer. The team brought back Chase Budinger as well and the team feels that it has the young talent to now compete in the west with other teams like the Thunder and Spurs. Budinger signed a three-year, $16 million contract while Brewer is back on a three-year, $15 million deal after being a first round pick for the team in 2007 and he comes back after averaging over 12 points for the Nuggets last season and the team sees him as a replacement for Kirilenko.
The Wolves made a number of moves this offseason, including getting Kevin Martin in the deal that sent Ridnour to the Bucks and now the guard reunites with his old coach Rock Adelman for the third time after playing for him in Sacramento and Houston, some of his best years. The Thunder acquired Martin in the deal for James Harden with the Rockets and now he is with the Wolves after the trade and he brings along an average of 14 points from last season and while Adelman was sad to see Ridnour go, he is glad to have Martin back under his tutelage.