Nikola Pekovic Waived by Timberwolves After 7 Seasons with Team

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced in a statement they waived center Nikola Pekovic.

Pekovic, 31, spent the last seven seasons with the Timberwolves. During that stretch, he averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field.          

However, foot and ankle injuries derailed his career, as they limited him to 97 total games between the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons. 

Pekovic didn't appear in a single game during the 2016-17 campaign because of recurring ankle troubles. 

When healthy, though, Pekovic proved to be one of the most imposing bigs the NBA had to offer for a short period in time. 

In 54 appearances during the 2013-14 season, he was one of seven players—along with Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, David Lee and Al Horford—to average at least 17 points and eight rebounds while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. 

The 2008 No. 31 overall pick—who was due a guaranteed $11.6 million next season—will have to prove chronic lower-body ailments are a thing of the past in order to earn another shot in the Association.