The Minnesota Timberwolves are very happy after signing Nikola Pekovic and getting back Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio healthy this offseason, but after giving Pek the extension, will the team have some financial issues in the future with their other two stars?
Minnesota wanted to retain Pekovic for the long haul after acquiring the pick they selected him with in a trade years ago and now that he has developed into a quality center in the NBA, the team felt they had no choice but to lock him up. The five-year, $60 million deal took quite a while to complete, but now that the center is back in the fold, the Wolves have a very solid young core that Flip Saunders thinks can make the playoffs. Pekovic and Love make for a very formidable frontcourt and with Rubio at the point the team is covered at some important positions.
Saunders said that futures of Love and Rubio would not be affected by the contract, but things could get tight when the team tries to sign Rubio to a five-ear deal, which he will be eligible for at some point. Love dealt with some tough times while he was injured and also when he was negotiating his extension and while he says that he is happy in Minnesota, that could change if the team doesn't win on a consistent basis. Last season they finished 20 games under .500, but both Love and Rubio were not healthy.
The team signed Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger and Corey Brewer this summer and while they are happy with the roster now, the financials could get tough over the next few seasons as Love approaches free agency again. Love is one of the most consistent big men in the league and the Wolves will want to try and retain him again. Pekovic is 27-years-old and combining with Love gives the Wolves one of the best one-two punches in the entire league.
Pekovic was the subject of many rumors while the contract was hung up and one reason for the delays were due to problems with money at one point, with Pekovic's agent asking for upwards of $15 million per season, while the Wolves are looking at about $12 million. One trade rumor that was reported included for Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge, who averaged over 20 points last season and has been mentioned in trade rumors all summer.
The report said 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. 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.