Wolves will only make a modest trade

[shrink]

I actually have pretty high hopes for Pekovic, so I'd, personally, pass on that Portland deal. I'll admit it makes sense from the stance that Portland needs a big and we need a wing, but I remember reading a scouting report on Pek where the author said that the only reason Pek wasn't a top 5 pick in his draft was because of his contract complications.

You're right - that was John Hollinger. Here's what he had to say about Pekovic

The second is Nikola Pekovic, a 22-year-old Montenegrin with a similar contract problem. Pekovic was little-known 12 months ago but absolutely dominated in the Euroleague this year.

My numbers from 2008 suggest he could start for most NBA teams tomorrow -- 18.3 points and 12.0 boards per 40 minutes, with 51.4 percent shooting and a 17.09 PER. I take this with a bit of a grain of salt, because his numbers from 2007 were terrible, but only a bit -- if it weren't for contracts I'd have him rated third on my board. Yes, third.

Unfortunately, you won't be hearing his name until much later. Pekovic signed a big-money deal with Panathinaikos in Athens -- reportedly for 4.5 million euros, which at the current exchange rate is about 300 billion dollars -- making it all but impossible for an NBA team to sign him under the rookie salary scale. As a result, he seems pegged for the early part of the second round. Nonetheless, if I'm the Timberwolves I take this guy at No. 31 before Adam Silver gets to the podium.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/ind ... inger_john

[Worm Guts]

Hollinger's the only person I've ever heard say Pekovic was a top 5 pick, and I think he may have been going strictly off of one his formulas. That doesn't mean he's wrong, but I think Pekovic's value is closer to a mid-first round pick than a top 5 pick. The highest Draft Express ever had him was 24th, that was just before he signed his contract.

[shrink]

Hollinger's the only person I've ever heard say Pekovic was a top 5 pick, and I think he may have been going strictly off of one his formulas. That doesn't mean he's wrong, but I think Pekovic's value is closer to a mid-first round pick than a top 5 pick. The highest Draft Express ever had him was 24th, that was just before he signed his contract.

You could be right, but others ratings were all downgraded because everyone knew he would not be coming over.

[shangrila]

I too remember reading an article from draftexpress saying without his contract he would have gone top 10. It's not top 5 but close enough.