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Minnesota Timberwolves rumors: Wolves could deal Nikola Peković

By Andrew Melnick

Mar 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) boxes out Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) boxes out Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that the Minnesota Timberwolves have dealt away Kevin Love, they appear to be building around their youth like swingman Andrew Wiggins, forward Anthony Bennett and big man Gorgui Dieng. Forward Thaddeus Young and point guard Rick Rubio probably fit into that discussion as well. That could lead the Timberwolves to consider dealing veterans like center Nikola Peković.

Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com believes the emergence of Dieng could lead to a Peković deal and the Timberwolves are likely open to offers.

"I’d assume the Timberwolves are open to offers at this point, but given Pekovic’s history of injury having two good options at center isn’t the worst idea. Playing them together seems unlikely now that both Thaddeus Young and Anthony Bennett are in the mix at power forward."

Of course, the Timberwolves continue to talk playoffs and although that’s quite the long-shot, dealing a solid center like Peković would signal the Timbwerwolves were giving up on that pipe dream.

Peković averaged 17.4 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 54.0% from the field and 74.7% from the free throw line. In his four-year career, the 31st-overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft, has put up 13.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53.5% from the floor and 74.7% from the charity stripe. As a rookie last season, Dieng, the 21st-overall pick in the first round of the 2013 draft, went for 4.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in just 13.6 minutes per game while shooting 49.8% from the floor and 63.4% from the free throw line. Dieng played much better (and more) as the season went on and won the NBA’s Western Conference’s Rookie of the Month Award in March.

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