The title of this post is the headline of a CBS Sports fantasy basketball post. Fantasy hoops can be silly, but those guys have an incentive to be realistic about when a player important to their team(s) is likely to actually play and produce.
The story reads:
Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic will most likely undergo an MRI on his injured ankle on Wednesday, reports the Associated Press.
Pekovic has not played since Nov. 15 while dealing with the ankle injury. In nine games, Pekovic is averaging 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Assuming the MRI happened (or will happen soon), the story notably fails to mention anything about why it would be that Pekovic’s MRI would only happen now, after the Wolves highest-paid player has been out since 15 November with injuries that are all but clear.
What is clear is this: Indications point to Pekovic not playing again this year. If he’s okay, he should be playing – not being re-evaluated. Given that he’s being re-evaluated, it appears that Pekovic isn’t okay. (Eds. Note: To be fair, the Wolves suggest that the point of the MRI is to clear Pek to come back soon. We’ll see.)
Fans are more enthused about Rubio’s return than Pekovic’s, which is understandable. But Pekovic’s return is an important part of determining whether the Wolves current core has a future if/when combined with its core of veterans–Pekovic, Rubio, and Kevin Martin.
Pekovic averaged 11.9 ppg in the 9 games he has played this season. He is being paid $12.1 million this year. If he doesn’t play again, he will have been paid $1,344,444 per game he played this season.
It is a bummer that Pek hasn’t been healthy this season. But it is an even bigger bummer that neither his injuries nor a credible timeline for his return have never been presented to Wolves fans.
Get well soon, Pek.
Punch-Drunk Wolves 
Flip is tanking like a pro. Could these guys come back? Probably, but why do it before they are a 100% and you can increase your ping pong ball stash while also getting all your youngsters minutes. If it weren’t for the WAY they are losing I’d actually agree with the strategy.
He’s tanking like a boss.
Will PEK ever play another game for the wolves? – I would guess yes, simply because we will never find anybody to take his contract – but PEK is unlikely ever to start another game for the wolves – 3rd string C at best. And to think we couldn’t lock into Kevin Love – but had no difficulty giving PEK a 5 year deal?
Last night, at least, Pek provided some sideline entertainment. I believe he gave Zgoda some daps (at least once, maybe more than once).
So any news? It’s Friday, and the new C just signed a 10 day contract? Does that make us optimistic that PEK will return? Or is the 10 day contract just an audition to be renewed once then a decision?
No news, as far as I know. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is consistent with the theory that Pekovic won’t play again this season.