HoopsHype.com Rumors

Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle on Tuesday. Pekovic's sore ankle kept him out of eight games towards the end of the season. Dr. Martin O'Malley performed the surgery and Pekovic is expected to make a full recovery and be ready in time for training camp. NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Wolves center Nikola Pekovic has decided to have postseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle. He has not decided when he will have the surgery or who will perform it. But his plans are to return home to Europe for two weeks immediately after the season ends before returning to the United States to have the surgery. Pekovic said he will split his rehab between here and Europe. Until then, Pekovic said, he will finish this season playing in the Wolves' final games. He had 10 points and four rebounds Monday in a 111-88 loss to Indiana. "It's something that will help me to be healthy next season," he said. "It will help me and my team and everything. I know without that trouble, I'll be more calm, not thinking about it. And hopefully, not miss any games." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without center Nikola Pekovic until at least Friday because of bone spurs in his right ankle. Pekovic missed the final two games of the previous road trip and the home game Sunday against Denver. He will also miss games at Memphis and Charlotte on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pekovic says he hopes to play Friday against Boston. Pekovic is averaging 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds this season. He says doctors have told him that the bone spurs are the result of ankle injuries when he was a younger player. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

And if you want a sense for Ellis’ market value right now, and probably leading into the March 15 trade deadline, it’s fitting to look back to last June. That’s when the GSW front office had talks with Minnesota (among a handful 0f other teams), centered around Ellis. According to multiple league sources, the two teams had a loose outline of a proposal–neither team had agreed to anything, but this was the basic heart of the talks: * Minnesota was willing to talk about a package involving F Michael Beasley and C Nikola Pekovic in return for Ellis. The sources say the Warriors didn’t flat out say no to Minnesota, but wanted more. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Michael Beasley, Monta Ellis, Nikola Pekovic 

Afterward, Wolves coach Rick Adelman campaigned for his second-year center, arguing that the NBA should add Pekovic to next week's All-Star weekend Rising Stars game, just like it made New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin and Miami's Norris Cole late additions on Thursday. "Lin has been a great story, but we're going to make a movement for Pek," said Adelman, who sounded like he was ready to go paint some signs. "Lin deserves all the credit and this just may be because we're in Minnesota, but if they're going to put [Lin] in that game, does anybody notice what this guy has done in the last two, three weeks? He has been every bit impressive as that kid. "The only difference is they've won seven in a row and they're in New York. It's like it's all about TV and TNT and the hype, which is great. But it's incredible Pek doesn't get any recognition." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Nikola Pekovic, Jeremy Lin 

Pekovic's response: Thanks, but no thanks. He plans to spend All-Star break with friends in Minneapolis instead. "I'm not, no," he said when asked if he shares Adelman's outrage. "I'm fine. I'm just the same. I'm just trying to be happy with all I got now. I was never the guy who's going to look for something, 'Why am I not here,' or 'Why am I not there?' I'm just happy to be here with these guys, the coaching staff, everybody. We're winning the games. That tells you." And Rubio is happy he sits at the locker stall next to his big, best friend. "I'm safe with having him next to me," Rubio said with a grin. "He's huge, he's strong and everybody's scared of him. And he's playing unbelievable." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Nikola Pekovic, Jeremy Lin 

Four consecutive losses certainly is no reason to panic, but ... "We keep talking to them about not giving in," Adelman said. "You can't give in. You can't let something keep going. If you don't stay together and don't trust each other, you can get on those rolls that go the other way. We don't want that to happen." Pekovic said he's confident it won't. "Last year, we were losing like 20 games in a row," said Pekovic, who started at center and had another double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. "Now we lost four games in a row. We are better team. Everybody can see that. We have way better result than last year already, but sometimes you get this upside down. "We're playing good, then we play bad. We have to learn to be consistent, you know? At the same level every game. We are young team. We just need some time." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Rick Adelman 

Pekovic is a 6-11, 290-pound cinder block with 11 percent body fat and hands as thick as a Christmas ham. He has large tattoos of medieval warriors holding swords on his left biceps and calf. He can bench press 360 pounds, squat a dump truck and snap you like kindling, if the mood strikes him. His voice is Barry White deep and made even more intimidating by his Eastern Bloc accent. The theme music from "The Godfather" plays on the scoreboard after he scores, and he looks like a guy who could, you know, take care of certain things. At least that's his on-court persona. "Sometimes people get the wrong impression about me," he said. "I'm just a normal guy." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

His teammates attest to that. "Pek is a big teddy bear," forward Anthony Tolliver said. Pek, a teddy bear? "He has two personalities," Tolliver said. "One on the court, which is a big brute, big monster. Off the court, he likes to have fun, likes to laugh, jokes around a lot." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Emiliano Carchia: Nikola Pekovic said that Darko Milicic has no intention of playing overseas during NBA lockout. Milicic is fishing, one of his main hobbies. Darko Milicic, who is a big fan of Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) also took part at a fishing competition in France without any good result. "Few days ago we were together. As I know, he doesn't want to play during the NBA lockout" said Nikola Pekovic about Darko Milicic Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout 

Jon de la Presa: Partizan signs Nikola Pekovic till the end of the lockout! Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Partizan Belgrade 

According to sources close to the situation, the deal between Partizan Belgrade and Nikola Pekovic is done. The big man from Montenegro will return to the Serbian powerhouse with a one-year contract with NBA out which will allow him to return to Minnesota Timberwolves when lockout ends. Sportando

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Serbia, Partizan Belgrade 

Partizan Belgrade's manager Dragan Todoric confirmed the club is negotiation with Minnesota's Nikola Pekovic. b92.net

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Serbia, Partizan Belgrade 

Nikola Pekovic is returning to Partizan!? The management of the great Serbian team, which this summer had already done a great job in getting Acie Law, is not far away from securing one more player from the strongest basketball league in the world to put on a black and white jersey -- their ex player Nikola Pekovic. According to uncomfirmed reports, the black-and-whites and the Minnesota player had had extensive discussions during the recent tournament of the ex-Yugoslavian republics. Novosti.rs

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Partizan Belgrade 

During those discussions, Pekovic showed great interest in returning to Partizan while the NBA lockout is in effect, but the details are still being worked out. Further, through unconfirmed sources, the completion of the negotiations is expected on Thursday, after which it will become clear if one of the best European centers will once again domaniate in the black and white colors of Partizan. Novosti.rs

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Partizan Belgrade 

Nikola Pekovic doesn't rule out returning to Partizan Belgrade during the lockout. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Serbia, Partizan Belgrade 

After Tracy McGrady, the last rumors on Galatasaray is Nikola Pekovic. The Center from Montenegro spent his first season in NBA with Minnesota Timberwolves with whom has two years left on his contract. As reported to Sportando by Pekovic's agent, Misko Raznatovic, the report is false. Pekovic will stay in the NBA where he is earning a salary that is not affordable by any European team. Sportando

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Lockout, Turkey, Galatasaray 

Howard and Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic had a testy exchange in the fourth period. After Pekovic whacked Howard across the arms on a post move, Howard grabbed Pekovic’s wrist to slow him down from running the break. Then, after the two nearly came to blows while fighting for a rebound, Pekovic shoved Howard on the other end of the floor and was whistled for a personal foul. ``They have a couple of MMA fighters on their team,’’ Howard said. ``We only have one MMA fighter and that’s me. It was a very physical game. Do we like physical games? Yes, but both teams have to play through it. It is rare when you have players like Pekovic, Darko (Milicic) and (Kosta) Koufos. It is fun, but you just have to learn to play through it.’’ NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, Nikola Pekovic 

Due to his rejuvenation on and off the court, something surprising has occurred. Milicic has been able to be somewhat of a mentor to Pekovic, which is something appreciated from the rookie. “The basketball is really different than the European. I was playing many years in Europe and wanted to come here to see what it is like and it is totally opposite. I mean, it is the same because you must put the ball through the rim, but many other things are different. It’s great having somebody from our country, especially Darko. He’s a great guy, so it’s really great to have somebody from our country to help me with many things. He can talk to me and help me understand everything about basketball and around basketball. It’s really helped me a lot, he’s a good guy and we hang out a lot.” Downtown Journal

Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic 

They may be from the same part of the world, but they stick out in Minnesota. You don’t always get to see the personalities of the players and there are a lot of misconceptions of them. When outside of the public eye, the two seemingly serious players let their hair down and show their teammates and media members a different side to them. “They’re both soft,” said Tolliver. “Anytime I’m around them, I’m sure to give them big hugs and they’re always laughing and smiling. Neither one of those guys are big, tough, stone-faced guys like you see on the court. They have to be out on the court, but off the court they are great guys and a lot of fun to be around.” Downtown Journal

Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic