Nikola Pekovic’s career could be nearing an end. He recently admitted that he is nearing retirement as he has struggled to come back from his numerous injuries.
With Pekovic likely done in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly seeking medical retirement for their center. Following via Marc Stein of ESPN:
Minnesota is expected to pursue a medical retirement for Pekovic, 31, after Jan. 31, which will mark one full year since he last appeared in a game due to ankle woes. Pekovic has one year left on the five-year, $60 million deal he signed heading into the 2013-14 season and has been ?running the storied Partizan Belgrade club back home as team president while away from the Wolves.
This isn’t much of a surprise. Medical retirement would allow the Wolves to clear about $12 million off of their salary cap numbers for free agency this summer. (To be clear, they would still owe Pekovic his money, but would not have to count it against the salary cap.) That would of course depend on judgment from an independent physician that Pekovic cannot continue playing due to his injuries.
Even with a rising salary cap, $12 million is not an insignificant sum to add. Even before removing Pekovic’s salary, the Wolves would have at least $9 million in cap space, a number that could jump above $20 million by renouncing the rights to players like Shabazz Muhammad and Adreian Payne.
If the Wolves are looking to get to the postseason next year after what has been a disappointing first season under Thibodeau, medical retirement for Nikola Pekovic is a good start. That is, if Pekovic is truly ready to step away from the game, which is of course the most important part of this story.
