NBA Rumors: Are The Minnesota Timberwolves Interested In Mickael Pietrus Again?

 

Injuries continue to hit the Minnesota Timberwolves early this season, with center Nikola Pekovic leaving Monday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with a left ankle injury. Pekovic’s injury is not thought to be severe, and he could play Wednesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.

But injuries to the backcourt have become a big concern, with Brandon Roy, J.J. Barea and Chase Budinger joining Ricky Rubio on the sideline recently, though Roy and Barea could return soon. Still, the Timberwolves have reportedly been fairly active in working out and pursuing available free agents in recent days, including re-initiating talks with the representatives for Mickael Pietrus.

Minnesota had some interest in Pietrus previously, but his unwillingness to play for the veteran’s minimum (around $1.2 million) looks to have derailed talks and also seems to have kept him on the market. Since that is all the Timberwolves can offer any available player, that may lead to any contract talks that occur going nowhere again. He has also gotten some recent interest from the Indiana Pacers, who will be without Danny Granger (knee) for an extended period of time.

Pietrus spent last season with the Boston Celtics, and averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game over 42 games (six starts). Overall in nine NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns as well as the Celtics, he has averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while making nearly 36 percent of his three-pointers. So he does have something to offer as a perimeter shooter and defender at 6’6″ tall, but a star player he clearly is not.

On the surface it looks like Pietrus and his agents are still overestimating his value, especially since he has undergone surgery on his right knee in each of the last two off-seasons. With the season now started, any team that shows interest most likely has been affected by injuries themselves and will not overpay for a player that has injury concerns. So I think the Timberwolves need to stay away here, even with the depleted roster depth they are facing.