Report: Pekovic seeks $15mill annually

[BleedGreen1989]

Flip Saunders met with Nikola Pekovic's agent, Jeff Schwartz, last week as they continue to discuss a four-year contract.

Schwartz also represents Kevin Love.

The Wolves have a four-year, $48 million contract on the table to Pekovic, but a source said he is seeking an annual salary approaching $15 million per season.

Pekovic could sign the $6 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Via Darren Wolfson/1500 ESPN

[Tr1boy]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

[BleedGreen1989]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

I'm not so sure though.

$15mill may seem like a stretch but it's certainly not ludacris.

[bobbyv]

I'd love him on the C's, but not for that price. The offer Minny put out sounds more than fair.

[CelticsFan9]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

Talented big men always get paid.

[eugen]

Does not deserve 15mill/season

[Chris]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

Well, unfortunately, it is not their choice whether he signs the qualifying offer, it is his choice.  And if he DOES sign it, he will have the right to veto any trade (and he likely would veto it), because it would cost him his Bird rights next season. 

[nickagneta]

At $14-15 million a year that puts him in Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bogut, and Roy Hibbert territory. Or, in other words, in a tier just below Dwight Howard as one of the better centers in the NBA. I don't think his agent is reaching very far asking for money in that territory.

[Fafnir]

At $14-15 million a year that puts him in Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bogut, and Roy Hibbert territory. Or, in other words, in a tier just below Dwight Howard as one of the better centers in the NBA. I don't think his agent is reaching very far asking for money in that territory.

Yup, and no harm at all in negotiating hard for it.

[sofutomygaha]

Wages of wins thinks 4/$48 is already about twice what he's worth.

[TheGreenMonster]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

I'm not so sure though.

$15mill may seem like a stretch but it's certainly not ludacris.

Not it isn't ... but this is 

[LooseCannon]

At $14-15 million a year that puts him in Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bogut, and Roy Hibbert territory. Or, in other words, in a tier just below Dwight Howard as one of the better centers in the NBA. I don't think his agent is reaching very far asking for money in that territory.

How do you think Pekovic compares to that group on defense?

[nickagneta]

At $14-15 million a year that puts him in Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bogut, and Roy Hibbert territory. Or, in other words, in a tier just below Dwight Howard as one of the better centers in the NBA. I don't think his agent is reaching very far asking for money in that territory.

How do you think Pekovic compares to that group on defense?

Doesn't really matter what I think about that, it matters how Minnesota or anyone else that signs him thinks about that. I just do not think its a huge stretch for his agent to be putting his client in that category and asking for similar money.

As for his defense compared to others. Pekovic isn't a rim protector or an even good pick and roll defender and his lack of lateral foot spped and mediocre overall footwork makes him susceptible to athletic centers or big athletic PFs with a good first step. He gets killed against teams playing small ball but he is okay and getting better against teams that play a more traditional style.

So overall, he's close to the bottom of that list defensively but he hasn't really ever played on a team that had a bunch of good defensive players or even a good defensive system, so I think that has to be taken into consideration.

[OsirusCeltics]

What a greedy son of a gun. No way he is worth 15 million a year.

Wolves should just sign him to a qualifying offer and just trade him

I'm not so sure though.

$15mill may seem like a stretch but it's certainly not ludacris.

Not it isn't ... but this is 

Pekovic's agent is pimping all over the world

[Moranis]

At $14-15 million a year that puts him in Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bogut, and Roy Hibbert territory. Or, in other words, in a tier just below Dwight Howard as one of the better centers in the NBA. I don't think his agent is reaching very far asking for money in that territory.

How do you think Pekovic compares to that group on defense?

Doesn't really matter what I think about that, it matters how Minnesota or anyone else that signs him thinks about that. I just do not think its a huge stretch for his agent to be putting his client in that category and asking for similar money.

As for his defense compared to others. Pekovic isn't a rim protector or an even good pick and roll defender and his lack of lateral foot spped and mediocre overall footwork makes him susceptible to athletic centers or big athletic PFs with a good first step. He gets killed against teams playing small ball but he is okay and getting better against teams that play a more traditional style.

So overall, he's close to the bottom of that list defensively but he hasn't really ever played on a team that had a bunch of good defensive players or even a good defensive system, so I think that has to be taken into consideration.

And conversely he is probably the best rebounder of that group (especially offensive rebounds) and near the top offensively.  He is also the most injured player of that group, which is why I would be very hesitant to pay him that kind of money.  He has never come close to a full season, which is a major concern.