If we were to trade Pekovic ..?

[Krapinsky]

If we're merely bringing in a center for defense and rebounding, then i'd rather have Verajao than Okafor. Cheaper money and an equivalent player from an impact standpoint.

[JMillott]

I like Okafor well enough but honestly, no team is taking on that contract unless they think he can put them over the top and the owner doesn't mind spending to do so. That certainly doesn't describe the Wolves current place in the league.

I could see the Celtics giving Okafor some consideration with the thought that perhaps the Magic would take him next summer in a sign and trade but I doubt they would risk the chance of signing Howard for anyone right now.

Actually, if the Heat could absorb his salary assuming a hardcap isn't part of the new CBA its likely that Okafor ends up in Miami in my opinion. Sure he is slightly overpaid and grossly overpaid in the final two years of the deal but i'm thinking they'd gladly overpay to grab a guy who might be a perfect fit at C.

The Heat's biggest problem was that to get any production from the C spot last year they either had to go small with Haslem or big and slow with Big Z who doesn't fit with a Wade/Bron perimeter tandem that needs to run.

Joel Anthony allowed them to run but hurt them in terms of production, rebounding and left them with likely the worst spacing of any NBA team when paired with Bron and Wade without either House or Jones who again slow down the offense.

Emeka Okafor is much like the flipside of the coin to Al Jefferson from the 2004 draft. Jefferson has spent much of his career lineup up at C when physically he is better suited to playing at PF and beyond that has spent much of that time at C with either undersized PF's or not so wonderful defensive PF's or in some cases both.

The both got sent away from the teams that drafted them just as those teams were building teams that would've allowed them to be far more successful. Its rather sad in Okafor's case with the Hornets because he has a PG who helps him reach his potential offensively or even exceed it but do to an overall lack of talent/depth they are stuck playing at an extremely slow pace which in my opinion hurts Okafor's chances to really help them too.

If they could just bring in some more wing talent and play at a faster pace they could be a much better team and Okafor could give them closer to 15/11 with a pair of blocks instead of 10/9.

[PG24]

I'll toss this out there:

MIN In / TOR Out: Calderon + rights to Valanciunas
TOR In / MIN Out: Pekovic + Ridnour + UTH 1st + MEM 1st + rights to Bjelica

Gives TOR the back-to-the-basket big they've been in dire need of for years along with a much cheaper, yet still productive, option at PG. Pek is bound to improve after his first year in the states and he'd be best served in a larger role; he could thrive in the right situation. TOR also receives a decent haul in assets in acquiring the one prospect and two 1sts.

For MIN, it serves as both a win-now move with bringing over the veteran Calderon, a highly productive yet overpaid PG who is also one of the best backcourt mate's Rubio could ask for, and a long-term, uber-high potential/terrific fit move in acquiring Valanciunas. To me it'd be a no brainer.

[JMillott]

I don't thnk the Raptors are taking a pu pu platter for Jonas.

Late first round picks don't have a ton of value because the draft is such a crap shoot from year to year and Calderon's play and contract aren't horrible even though he is certainly overpaid. If his deal had an extra year or two left on the back end they might be that desperate to deal him. I just don't see them as desperate to dump Calderon to avoid paying two years and $20 million when a fair deal would likely be 2 years and $15 million.

I think the Wolves would have to part with Beasley, Williams or Johnson to get them to consider that deal which I wouldn't do if i'm the Wolves.

[PG24]

Yeah, I agree with you on the mid-1sts. Personally I don't value them very highly which is why I peg this deal to be a no brainer, but if that's the general sentiment around the league then TOR more than likely doesn't bite (although you could make the case that the 1sts would be due up in a 'stonger' draft). It all depends on how they value Pekovic. He's a rare breed and by all means could become a force to be reckoned with in the right situation. Toronto would seemingly be a good fit. It's just a shame there really isn't much opportunity here for him.

[Vindicater]

There is no way Toronto give up Jonas after the display he just put on.

[Ledeni]

To be honest I expected more from Pek, but he didnt disappointed me at all...

He averiged 5.5 points (FG 0.517%, FT 0.763%), 3 rebounds, 0.4 ass, 0.3 st 0.5 bls 1.4 to and 2.8 pf in only 13.6 minutes.

His main problem is like other top european players (or prospect) had comming into NBA... not enough minutes to show what they can do... and many (familly, friends, coaches, public) expect from them to become all star players in first few years withc build up preasure... in Europe for example he was top 3 player... and here he is a rookie who gets around 10-15 minutes per game... maybe 25 if he gets lucky... that is just not enough. They start to doubt their talent and start thinking about comming back... to Europe... really many things matter... I watched him play so many times before NBA and I must say he look like 50% of that guy, he doesnt play in his comforte zone... He is better than this preformance... but he is not the only one and many players in NBA have that same problem and its up to them to earn coach trust and then prove themself in the game.


Now he is good offensive tool, plays hard.. he had like 5-10 games where he scored 10+ points in 10 minutes... that shows that he can be good scorer. And 5.5 points in 13.6 min is not bad thats around 14.5 points per 36 minutes... and rebounds is decent as well 8 rebounds per 36 min...

Pek real problem are PF and TO... and there are just too many of them... but most of them is just because of his frustration of his position, because he is trying to do so much to prove himself to coach, owner, other players and crowd... and he burn in that desire most of the time...

He can easily have like 14-16 pts/8-9 rebounds/1 ass/1st/1.5bl in 35minutes... maybe even more.. but he will probably never get his minutes in Minnesota behind Darko who is slightly better, and Klove who can have some good times on C spot, or Randolph who is in sleepy all-star in my own opinion, also Toliver is there to steal some minutes as well. So its litte crowded on C, not like SF/PF spot... but close.

Pek trade value is also not that great... so it will be interesting to see what will happen in next season.

I am not very optimistic about his future in Minnesota... but that is just based on his playing time... if Wolfs clear some space and provide him more minutes I expect from him to improve substantially.

[Vindicater]

To be really fair, Pek needs another season before we make a call on him.

[PuppyBite]

Combination of many things already posted, but this all depends on what people might value. Is Kevin Martin really worth over 10 million a season? For that reason Houston might want to move him depending on the Team/McHale's plans. That might open the door for a trade. Pekovic and Webster passes the trade machine for Martin. Why? McHale likes post players and drafted Pekovic. Webster kind of replaces Martin or they could use him in another trade. Both players from the Wolves have upside, because no longer a rookie and recovered from an injury. Martin could be the scoring veteran influence for the Wolves. The Wolves have many issues and this at least addresses backcourt needs and a crowded frontcourt. Now if they only had a coach.

[Foye]

Combination of many things already posted, but this all depends on what people might value. Is Kevin Martin really worth over 10 million a season? For that reason Houston might want to move him depending on the Team/McHale's plans. That might open the door for a trade. Pekovic and Webster passes the trade machine for Martin. Why? McHale likes post players and drafted Pekovic. Webster kind of replaces Martin or they could use him in another trade. Both players from the Wolves have upside, because no longer a rookie and recovered from an injury. Martin could be the scoring veteran influence for the Wolves. The Wolves have many issues and this at least addresses backcourt needs and a crowded frontcourt. Now if they only had a coach.

Martin is not a good veteran influence. He has never been an important part of a winning team.
Also we have enough guys who can score. We need a defensive-minded wing who is able to handle the ball as well. Love, Beasley, Wes, Williams, Randolph are all capable of putting the ball in the basket.
We need defense and someone to run our offense. Martin is not that kind of player.

Honestly, Martin is a good player but he's a terrible fit on the Wolves. Even Monta Ellis is a better fit. At least he's able to handle the ball and make plays for his teammates. His defense is obviously just as bad as Martin's is.
Martin would overpaid for a role we have already filled adequately on our team.
I'd much rather bring in a couple defensive minded vets than investing 10 mil./year in Kevin Martin.

[ifrclone]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere as of yet - Pek is about to sign back with his original team Partizan Belgrade, with an opt out clause.
They already signed Acie Law for a full year with no opt out, Pek is coming, along with Nesterovic, and there are rumors about Sheldon Williams as well. Oh, and Vesely just might continue to play there until the season starts. Not a bad lineup at all, if all the trades come true...

[southern wolf]

Looks like Pek's going to be playing back in Serbia until the lockout ends...

http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/adr ... kovic.html

According to sources close to the situation, Partizan Belgrade is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the agent of Nikola Pekovic to bring the center from Montenegro back to Serbia until NBA lockout ends.

[Vindicater]

Good, all our players should keep playing, keep playing and getting better.