The Minnesota Timberwolves are working on trying to sign restricted free agent center Nikola Pekovic and while the two sides have been far apart in negotiations, team executive Flip Saunders has tried to speed things up and now he says that training camp is a deadline for the deal.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Saunders, who is now in the role as team president, said to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that while he is confident the deal will get done, he added that a deadline for the contract is training camp. The two sides appear to be hung up on Monday and while the Timberwolves definitely want to keep Pekovic, there always is a chance someone could wow them with a deal and the Sacramento Kings, Rockets, Pelicans or Chicago Bulls all fit for Pek if he were to be moved.
According to reports, Pekovic is looking for over $14 million per season over four or five years, while the Wolves were thinking of $12 million per year over four seasons. All reports and rumors have Pekovic returning, but if things end up getting nasty, a deal could go down. The Timberwolves love what Pekovic brings to the frontcourt that already includes Kevin Love and Ronny Turiaf and after he averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season, the team feels he has more potential to build on in his development.
One report said that the team was playing hardball on the deal because they will also need to sign Rocky Rubio to an extension, but it spears to be basically about money when it comes to the hang-up on this deal extension. The Timberwolves went just 31-51 last season while dealing with injuries to Kevin Love and Rubio and now with those two back at full health and the additions of Turiaf, Kevin Martin as well as Shabazz Muhammad in the draft, the franchise feels that it can compete for a playoff spot out West.
Pekovic has been mentioned in some rumors for trades with LaMarcus Aldridge and others, but right now there appears to be no movement on a deal. Pekovic is on his way to becoming one of the more consistent centers in the league and depending on how the contract negotiations go, he could end up as one of the most handsomely paid as well.