Nikola Pekovic

[Mamba4Goat]

Hypothetical, but if Pek comes back and has a healthy season and looks great and like his normal self, aside from selling him at the first given opportunity, how does it affect your view of this season and the everything going forward as well?

[Foye]

Sadly, this is not hypothetical, it's impossible.

[breatnach]

Pretty insignificant. Of course I'm rooting for the big fella, but healthy or not, he's not part of our core or our future.

Make playoffs, without Pekovic = good season. Miss playoffs, with Pekovic = bad season.

[southern wolf]

Pek could still be a nice backup centre if healthy. Big if though. I think he's cooked.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm hopeful, but I'm wondering what he's even going to be able to give even if he's structurally healthy. He hasn't played quality basketball for 3 years, he's going to be 31 years old this season, and I'd imagine his endurance is going to be worse than ever.

[Mattya]

Would be awesome, but I can't even acknowledge it as a possibility.

[Maefteda]

If 13/14 Pekovic shows up, he would be a huge addition to the team, but I have just counted him out entirely now and don't expect things to change.

Even with 1 healthy season, I'd still wanna sign Dieng long-term. He is our future rotational big at PF/C.

[NewWolvesOrder]

Coldrich made Pek irrelevant.

[Calinks]

If it did come back healthy and good to go somehow I think it would be a big addition. We are talking about a 15 point 9 rebound per game type of player with top 10 post move arsenal. We would have probably the strongest offensive collection of centers in the league.

[Vindicater]

No chance whatsoever of this happening.

[mngopher35]

I agree with people that it just won't happen, I expect nothing but warm benches from him. Assuming it were to happen though, I would look to move him as soon as possible honestly if anything. Use that money towards dieng or something instead. Just have no faith he contributes to the team moving forward.


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[Viljanen]

If it did come back healthy and good to go somehow I think it would be a big addition. We are talking about a 15 point 9 rebound per game type of player with top 10 post move arsenal. We would have probably the strongest offensive collection of centers in the league.

Yes. A healthy Pek is a top 10 center, everything changes with him. Playoffs would be there for sure... and we would be a threat for almost anyone.

Pek/towns/dieng (aaand garnet/aldrige/bjelica) that is the best interior game of the league. Borderline contenders just because of that.

[Klomp]

A healthy pre-injury Pek would probably be Top-10, but that was almost 3 years ago. He's 30 years old now, not 28. Even if he's "healthy" he probably still won't be what he once was.

2011 through January 27, 2014: 16 ppg (.535 FG), 8.4 rpg
January 27, 2014 through Present: 13.6 ppg (.453 FG), 6 rpg

The FG% is the key number. He may get the volume stats if we feed him the ball, but he's not what he used to be.

[ace625214]

Pek has always started slowly and worked himself into form throughout the season. Since he's been getting injured, all we've seen is his start of the season cold patches. If we continue to get 15 game chunks of him, then I agree that his FG% won't recover, because he just doesn't come into it with a hot hand. However, if everything is structurally sound like Kander claimed and Pek plays 60 games, I think he'll get his touch back.

[Narf]

I think the right move is still to trade him, assuming we get proper value. We're a hell of a lot better with Pek, but one more good young (cheap) piece is probably better for us overall.

[perempe20]

Pek was one of my favorite players. he was a great offensive center who did not shy away from contact.

hope he will have another good season!

[eyeteeth]

I love Pek. I was bullish for a long time. That seems a long time ago. I doubt it.

[Klomp]

Thibodeau said center Nikola Pekovic, trying to come back from the ankle and Achilles pain that has hampered him for three seasons, is not likely to be ready to practice when camp starts Tuesday.

“He’s been here for a good chunk of the summer, trying to rehab,” Thibodeau said. “He hasn’t been able to do much on the court. So he’s still having some issues there. At this point I would say it’s unlikely he will practice.”

With the Wolves having shored up their frontline depth by signing Cole Aldrich and Jordan Hill in free agency, Pekovic’s future in Minnesota is unclear.

“We wanted to get him here, try to give him an opportunity get in shape and get treatment,” Thibodeau said. “We were hopeful he would respond well. There have been some good days, but there have been a lot of setbacks as well. It’s something we’ll monitor going forward.”

http://www.startribune.com/kevin-garnett-and-timberwolves-owner-glen-taylor-in-talks-about-the-veteran-s-future/394288251/

[LibertyPrime]

He just can't continue an NBA career while he's pushing 300. If he could take 50 lbs off, maybe, but for a guy like Pek who is all muscle, where do you take 50 lbs off?

I'm not holding out any hope. I like the guy, and if he's smart with his money he's set for life, but he's played his last meaningful minute as an NBA player unless he radically reshapes his body.

[Worm Guts]

Apparently Pekovic won't play for the Wolves this season.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2016/09/nikola-pekovic-wont-play-for-wolves-this-season.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook