The Minnesota Timberwolves have indicated that they plan on playoff contention in the 2013-2014 season, but that could prove difficult in the rugged Western Conference without a capable big man.
Enter Nikola Pekovic, a seven-foot restricted free agent coming off a career year last season. He has been negotiating a new deal with the Wolves for over a month, but so far the needle hasn't moved much, and no other teams have put Minnesota's feet to the fire.
According to reports, the Timberwolves' offer to Pekovic is four years and $48 million. Pekovic, however, is coming off a career season in which he posted 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 74 percent free throw shooting. He has also proven adept at running pick and rolls with Ricky Rubio, which could be devastating when paired with Kevin Love's perimeter marksmanship.
Despite the lengthy negotiations, Wolves executives insist talks haven't been contentious.
"Jeff [Schwartz, Pekovic' agent] and I have had very good conversations," said Flip Saunders, Minnesota's President of Basketball Operations. "Nothing's been adversarial. There's things that we've agreed upon. There's things we've agreed to disagree upon. I think we're moving in the right direction."
Saunders also appealed to Pekovic's competitiveness with another comment. "I do believe that Pek knows what we have in place, the people we've brought in, that this is a positive place," Saunders said. "I'm confident we'll have a meeting of the minds."
Pekovic is currently in Montenegro, and pulled out of the European Championships because of his contract situation. Pekovic has missed time in all three of his NBA seasons, which could be a reason the Timberwolves are so hesitant to lavish a big-time deal on him. Pekovic has never played in more than 65 games.
"I believe we're moving forward," Saunders said. "I think it's been more of an education process on both sides about why they believe where each is at, as far as offers. I think we're moving in a positive direction."
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