HoopsHype.com Rumors

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn is casually talking to other general managers, but nothing is percolating. As for the ESPN report that they offered center Nikola Pekovic and Williams for Lakers center/forward Pau Gasol, a team source said numerous conversations happened this summer. Gasol very much remains on their radar, but no offer was made recently. 1500ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Pau Gasol, Nikola Pekovic 

The source, when it was suggested retaining Pekovic could take a long-term deal worth around $12 million annually: "12 sounds like a lot." In other words, there's definitely a healthy internal debate about whether it makes sense to pay him big-time. The alternative is to include him in a trade, which isn't out of the question. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea. Minnesota has five international players on the roster, tied with Cleveland for second-most in the NBA. San Antonio has eight international players, a league record. "I think it's pretty evident to me that there's a lot of not just good players, but some of the very best players in our game who have come from overseas," Kahn said. "To me, it's just a natural extension of scouting. Just as you can't afford to be negligent about the domestic side, you can't afford to not be on top of matters internationally." NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, David Kahn, Alexey Shved 

Stretch power forward Andrea Bargnani, veteran point guard Jose Calderon and fellow vet Linas Kleiza are among the players, sources say, that the Raptors have discussed making available to the Lakers in a deal for Gasol. It's an open secret around the league, meanwhile, that Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has been trying since last season to acquire Gasol to join fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio in a three-man core with All-Star forward Kevin Love, but sources say that the Lakers continue to resist Minnesota's attempts to build a trade offer around 2011's No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams and center Nikola Pekovic. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Linas Kleiza, Pau Gasol, Jose Manuel Calderon, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrea Bargnani 

Sam Amico: Warriors coach Mark Jackson on Harrison Barnes' monster dunk over Wolves C Nikola Pekovic: "Well, it's behind Tom Chambers' over me." Twitter @SamAmicoFSO

Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Harrison Barnes 

The Timberwolves haven't had much good news lately on the health/injury front, but they got some at practice today: Nikola Pekovic was back on the floor participating fully, and Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio participated in 5-on-0 offensive walkthroughs for the first time. That's a good sign, although it doesn't necessarily mean their timetables -- Love around Dec. 1, Rubio sometime later that month -- have been moved forward. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries, Kevin Love 

The banged-up Minnesota Timberwolves aren't getting any reinforcements for their game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Center Nikola Pekovic, shooting guard Brandon Roy and point guard J.J. Barea all were scratched for the game on Wednesday with injuries, leaving the Wolves with just nine healthy players. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries, Brandon Roy, Jose Juan Barea 

The Timberwolves director of international scouting has traveled to the tiny country wedged between Serbia and the Adriatic Sea about 10 times. Each time, he's been struck by the size of the people he sees in the narrow, European streets of its capital, Podgorica. "It's a region of very tall people," Philo said. "I don't know, some areas of the world produce different types of players. It's in the food, and that's the truth. ... In Montenegro, when I walk down the street in Podgorica, it seems like everyone is 6-5 or 6-8, 6-10. You see just people tall and long walking all over the place, and you're wondering if it's other basketball players or what they are." Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Pete Philo 

The need for a big body is somewhat minimized by the good news they received on center Nikola Pekovic's left ankle on Tuesday. A source close to Pekovic said, "He's fine. It's just a sprain. There's no structural damage." The source wasn't sure though if he could return as soon as Wednesday for the game vs. Charlotte at Target Center. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: Trainer Gregg Farnam carried crutches out of training room while Pek limped toward bus. "I don't use crutches," big Pek said. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: Funny scene tonite: Pek limping out of arena on sprained ankle looks back & sees Love/Rubio getting ride on cart. "Hey guys, what about me?" Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: Pekovic said his ankle is "not bad" but wants to see how it is in the morning before he makes any predictions about his return Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

In an increasingly international league -- a record-tying 84 international players were on opening-day rosters this season -- three are from Montenegro and two were on the Target Center court Wednesday. Wolves center Nikola Pekovic and Orlando center/forward Nikola Vucevic are friends, have worked out together and have been teammates on their country's national team. "He's a good guy, a good player," said Pekovic of Vucevic. "We are friends, good friends. We talk a lot." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Nikola Pekovic, Nikola Vucevic 

So what was the key? No one seemed to know. Chief among the reasons, according to this giddy, proud bunch, was Shved's haircut ("You think because of that we win?" Pekovic asked. "Me and AK, we make him to cut his hair. Now he look like a man.") Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Alexey Shved 

The T-Wolves projected lineup (when everyone is healthy) has Brandon Roy as the only black player along with Nikola Pekovic, Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko and superstar Kevin Love. "It's just basketball," Roy said. "I never really had to feel like I'm the only black guy out here. I've played on teams that maybe had all black guys and the feeling is just the same when I'm out there on the floor playing with these guys. The only problem we have is in the weight room, arguing over what music we're going to listen to." USA Today

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Kevin Love, Brandon Roy 

"This year I must work," Pekovic. "I earned that minutes. I can't just say, ‘Okay, Coach, give me to play 35 minutes. That's fine. I will stop working.' I will work even more so that Coach can see that he didn't miss why he gave me that minutes to play. That's how I'm doing. That's how I will keep doing." Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Pekovic said he wants to stay in Minnesota. "I would like to stay here because of everything," he said. "I just like everything. I like the area. I like the team. I like all the stuff. Now I got some friends here. Now it's real easy. It's just nice, nice people, nice town. I would like to be here." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Big Nikola Pekovic simply shrugged when told the league wants to warn a player once during the regular season and then fine him $5,000 for a first offense to as much as $30,000 for a fifth offense if he reacts too theatrically in an attempt to draw a favorable foul call. "I never flop," Pekovic said. "No, I'm fine. I just know, for me, I don't have to worry because I know I'm not a flopper." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Referees 

Wolves coach Rick Adelman pretty much exiled Milicic after he was injured about one-third of the way through last season, and he rarely saw court time, even when center Nikola Pekovic had his assortment of ankle problems. Adelman thought Darko was out of shape, among other things. Milicic said he didn't know what was going on. "I was trying to find answers," Milicic told CSN New England. "[Nikola] Pekovic, he started playing well. I wasn't asking about starting. I wanted to ask about why I wasn't playing at all. I hear a lot of this and that . . . I was like, 'If you guys going to fool around and make excuses' . . . we kind of separated from each other." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic, Rick Adelman 

Love called himself in "good shape" and says he'll use training camp to get in better shape. He still, however, apparently wasn't in good enough shape to keep up with Nikola Pekovic during pickup games Monday. Pekovic dropped at least eight pounds and has reduced his body fat from 12 to 8 percent. "I had to guard him for five games yesterday and in the second game I was already tired," Love said. "He's really in shape. Having to guard him down there is tough. I think he's going to have a really great year." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Kevin Love