One year after finishing with the worst record in the NBA the Minnesota Timberwolves are a team that might surprise some people in 2015-16. The team is loaded with talent, including the last three first overall picks, and they figure to be a lot healthier this upcoming season. The team is so loaded, in fact, that one of their best players from the past few years might have to come off the bench this season and that is Nikola Pekovic according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.com.
Flip Saunders, head coach and president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, said that Kevin Garnett is definitely going to start which leaves only one other starting spot for a big man.
"He's gonna start. That's who he is. KG is a starter. He's the best power forward on our team, actually. No one rebounds better. He's the best help defender. No one communicates better. He knows the offense, and he can pass it," said Saunders.
The other options besides Pekovic to start at center would be first overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng and when asked who is the favorite to start Saunders mentioned that Pekovic is still hurt so it might not be him.
Pekovic played in just 31 games last season as he was one of many Timberwolves to miss significant time with an injury. Pekovic was dealing with an Achilles injury last season and according to Saunders, it is still nagging him. Even when Pekovic played last season his numbers were down. He averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting a career low 42 percent from the field. It was Pekovic's first season ever shooting below 52 percent.
Pekovic is one of the biggest men in the league at 6 foot-11, 285 pounds and is a very good rebounder and scorer. The problem for Pek though is that he can't stay healthy. In his five years in the NBA he has never played in more than 65 games. When he's on the court he is a force as he averages 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per 36 minutes but getting on the court consistently hasn't happened yet for the 29 year old.
If Pekovic can show he is healthy this year he will definitely get playing time whether it's as a starter or a reserve. Garnett will start but likely won't play much more than 20 minutes per game so Pekovic will have a chance to earn minutes and get back to dominating inside.
