Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially done everything right this offseason. Fans will be ecstatic to know that Minnesota has brought back their 6’11”, 290 pound tank of a center Nikola Pekovic on a five-year contract worth approximately $60 million.
The Wolves have already signed Kevin Martin, re-signed Chase Budinger and also brought back Corey Brewer who originally started his career in Minnesota. So, after solidifying their wing rotation they have now done the same with their front court.
With power forward Kevin Love and Pekovic, Minnesota has the number one rebounding front court in the entire NBA. Love, when healthy, is arguably the top rebounder in the league and Pekovic averaged nearly nine boards in 2012.
Last season, Pekovic put up 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field. He missed 20 games due to injury, but when in the lineup he was one of the primary focuses on offense as Love recovered from his hand injury. Point guard Ricky Rubio has developed quite the chemistry with both big men and is probably one of the most thrilled about the re-signing.
Had the Wolves not been able to bring back Pekovic, they would have been forced to either sign another free agent or start rookie center Gorgui Dieng out of Louisville, their second pick in this year’s draft.
Fortunately for the Wolves, they were able to bring back the Serbian sensation and it is the final piece to the puzzle this summer. Minnesota will absolutely be in the mix for the playoffs next year with everyone healthy, and Pekovic is one of the most important players in that equation.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
