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Year-Round News & Updates on the Minnesota Timberwolves
It was announced earlier today that the Minnesota Timberwolves had extended restricted free agent center Nikola Peković a contract offer in the vicinity of 4-years, $48million--paying Pek an average of $12million a year.
Next to Andrew Bynum, Nikola is one of the best centers still left on the market and this news today was some of the first we've heard since free agency started one week ago. The Wolves waived center Greg Stiemsma and swingman Mickaël Gelabale yesterday evening as both were on non-guaranteed deals. That gives the Wolves a bit more cap space--despite the fact that they could go over the cap to re-sign Peković. No other team has made Pek any offers so it remains to be seen if this was a smart strategy by new President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders--or a dumb move. It's a smart move if Nikola outright accepts the offer and returns to the Wolves on the above deal. Also seeing the Wolves simply offering him a deal and not waiting for another team to make a big offer that they'd have to decide to match--might be a sign of respect to the much improved big man. It's a dumb move if no other team makes an offer and the Wolves inflated his price for no reason--as they could have signed him cheaper (ie: 4-years, $40million; $10million a year average). The Wolves don't really have a backup plan if Nikola goes elsewhere as the only other centers on the roster are rookie Gorgui Dieng and journeyman Chris Johnson. Re-signing Pek will be a big priority going forward. Stay tuned for more.
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Cody AndersonA TWolves fan, bringing you the daily updates. News Archives
August 2017
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