While high-profile NBA superstars dominate the trade rumors around the league this early in the season, some low-key names are also being mentioned. One of them is Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic, who is rumored to be getting out of place in Sam Mitchell's youth-ball movement with the entry of this year's top rookie draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns.
Hoops Rumors' Chris Crouse said that while the Montenegrin giant "is still recovering from an Achilles injury", it is quite possible that he would not be eating his former minutes when he returns in Mitchell's current rotation that includes more youth, speed, and athleticism.
Crouse specifically mentioned Towns and 25-year-old Senegalese big man Gorgui Dieng, the 2013 NBA Draft 21st overall selection, as the top two options of Mitchell in the middle.
It should be noted, however, that Pekovic was the Wolves' starting center just two seasons ago, averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in 30.8 minutes of play per night. Last season, his recurring ankle problems allowed him to only play 31 games, starting 29 of them, which ultimately led to an Achilles tendon surgery in April.
Speculations abound that the Wolves are presently considering a deal with the Dallas Mavericks or the Indiana Pacers involving the 6-foot-11, 307-pound colossus, although there were no official reports of which players are the two teams willing to swap for Pekovic.
Crouse mentioned that "half of the Dallas roster" can only be traded after the December 15 deadline while the Pacers could probably pursue Pekovic if Larry Bird's "small ball plan doesn't pan out," so it would take until then before an official transaction could happen.
Pekovic was actually the subject of an "almost" trade deal between Minnesota and the Portland Trail Blazers back in August, as per Fansided.
The report noted that the Wolves "were trying to unload the ugly contract of" Pekovic, which is a five-year, $60 million contract that began in 2013-2014, but the supposed to be "major trade" was called off by both teams.