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Pekovic said there is no doubt that he wants to return to Minnesota next season and far beyond. His coach is certain of that, too, although another team could complicate the process with a huge offer. “I tell you now — whoever’s listening — I want him back,” Adelman said. “That’s what I’d like. We have to have some consistency. We cleaned a lot of people out last year, but we now have a core group who can be pretty good if we just stay healthy, and he’s certainly one of those guys.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

PP: Are you expecting a tough negotiation with Pekovic, who could command as much as $14 million a year in the free agent market? Glen Taylor: I want him to stay, and he has told me he wants to stay. It's to our advantage to try and work something out with him. We know and he knows he's able to test the market. When he tells me he wants to stay, I take him for his word, but agents play a big role in all of this. PP: Will you personally get involved in Pekovic's negotiations if necessary? GT: It's not the way we would start out, but if it means getting a quicker and fairer deal done, I would. This is a very important deal for us. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nikola Pekovic, Glen Taylor 

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and the Minnesota Timberwolves big man Nikola Pekovic have been named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, April 1 through Sunday, April 7. The Knicks are on a 12-game winning streak, and Anthony led them to a 4-0 week. He averaged a league-best 41.8 points and became just the second player in team history, Bernard King was the first, to score 40-or-more points in three consecutive games. USA Today Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Nikola Pekovic 

Charley Walters: To-be restricted free agent Timberwolf Nikola Pekovic says he wants "100 percent" to remain in Minnesota. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nikola Pekovic 

People who know say there is no chance of the Timberwolves not signing center Nikola Pekovic to a contract extension. Pekovic, 27, who is averaging 15.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, can become a restricted free agent after the season. The Wolves, though, can match any offer and retain him. The 6-foot-11, 281-pounder is being paid $4.6 million this season and can expect to at least double that per year on a new deal. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nikola Pekovic 

Do you want Pekovic to re-sign? Has he talked to you at all about it? Kevin Love: Oh yeah. Pek is a guy … I don’t want to say he’s a recluse or a shut-in, but he's the type of guy who, when he has something and he likes it, he kind of sticks with it. He likes being around this team, and he's familiar with us. Grantland

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Kevin Love 

Jon Krawczynski: Pek and Kirlienko will not play the rest of the week. Will be re-evaluated on Monday. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries 

Darren Wolfson: Pek update from a source: MRI today didn't show anything. But he's still in pain (abdominal injury). His return date is TBD. #twolves Twitter @DarrenWolfson

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: Pek visited the Suns training room after the game and was looked at by Suns doctors. Not sure what issue is, will know more at practice Wed Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries 

Pekovic's camp has been given verbal assurances he's staying put for now, but nothing beyond that. A team source still scoffs at the notion that Pekovic is worth $11 million/year on a long-term deal. But whether it's the Wolves or a different team, it's inevitable he's getting that this summer. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

Kahn's top priority at this point is to add a two-guard/small forward with size. But there is truth to his interest in Denver center Timofey Mozgov, a restricted free agent this coming summer who played with Kirilenko and Wolves guard Alexey Shved on the Russian Olympic team. "They like Mozgov," a league source said. "They think he is a better value than Pek (Nikola Pekovic). They would let Pek go in free agency (this summer). They still may pursue Mozgov in free agency." 1500 ESPN

Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Trade, Nikola Pekovic, Timofey Mozgov 

Nikola Pekovic: "I hope to play at the Eurobasket, but it's going to depend on a lot of factors. First of all, I have to take care of my situation in America." Kosarka 24

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Montenegro, Eurobasket 

Jerry Zgoda: Pek on what he's caught ice fishing so far: "I catch a few Northern pikes, porch, perch, how you say?" Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic 

The 6-foot-11, 281-pound center from Montenegro can become a restricted free agent after the season, but he said he definitely wants to remain in Minnesota. "I like everything about Minnesota," Pekovic said. "First of all, I like the team. I think we can do a lot when we're healthy. I like the coaching staff." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nikola Pekovic 

The Timberwolves have lost 13 of their past 15 games, but not because of Nikola Pekovic, who in the team's loss to San Antonio on Wednesday night, Feb. 7, had his eighth 20-point, 10-rebound game of the season. The 6-foot-11, 281-pound center from Montenegro can become a restricted free agent after the season, but he said he definitely wants to remain in Minnesota. "I like everything about Minnesota," Pekovic said. "First of all, I like the team. I think we can do a lot when we're healthy. I like the coaching staff." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nikola Pekovic 

BallinEurope would really appreciate it if a native speaker of Japanese could translate the below piece on Nikola Pekovic and the Minnesota Timberwolves which recently ran in the periodical Dunk Shot – but it’s already a great big hunk of awesome. Check out the manga versions of Peks, sharp-angled Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey “Tiny” Shved and the doe-eyed Ricky Rubio (What? No Mickael Gelabale?) doing some kind of super task forcey thing and … is that Bill Walton there in panel four? Ball In Europe

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Bill Walton 

The Trail Blazers have been rumored to having interest in the third-year center for some time and Pekovic has heard those same rumors and considers it a compliment. “That's really nice when you hear that other teams like Portland really want to bring you in,” Pekovic told CSNNW.com. “That means that I'm doing a good job and they like what I'm doing. That's something nice.” CSNNW.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Nikola Pekovic 

At 6-11, 290 pounds, Pekovic would be the perfect frontcourt mate to two-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge and rising stud Nicolas Batum. Pekovic says “If people are talking about me playing along side players like that, that's really nice to hear.” CSNNW.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Nikola Pekovic 

I continue to hear there's a split opinion internally about whether Pekovic is worth $12 million a year long-term beginning this summer, when he'll be a restricted free agent. League sources remain confident that, if a Pekovic trade comes, there's a better chance it's this summer in a sign-and-trade. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Trade, Nikola Pekovic 

“More than ever, I have different cultures around me,” (Roy) said referring to himself, Dante Cunningham and Derrick Williams being the only full-time players on the roster who are black. “I'm used to playing on a team with all black guys so things were always pretty similar in the locker room. But now I'm in the locker room joking with Pek (Nikola Pekovic) in the weight room and he's playing Serbian music and I'm like, 'Dude, turn this off.' So me and him over there compromising over that kind of stuff. I'm like, 'Look, you get the first 20 minutes and I'll get the last 20 minutes,'” Roy said, laughing. CSNNW.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Brandon Roy