Timberwolves owner: Pekovic won't play this year, may be bought out

Nikola Pekovic's NBA career appears to be on life support.

Due to a number of chronic injuries, the 30-year-old Montenegrin will not compete for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the upcoming 2016-17 regular season, team owner Glen Taylor said during a Friday appearance on WCCO Radio.

With two seasons remaining on his five-year, $60-million contract, Taylor also hinted that the Timberwolves might buy out the remainder of his deal. Should he never play again, most of the money he's still owed ($12.1 million this season and $11.6 million in 2017-18) would be covered by insurance.

Pekovic underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon in April 2015, and was ruled out for nine months. He suited up for a 12-game stretch from Jan. 6-31, but was shut down as a result of complications from the operation.

He's only played 60 or more games in a season twice, and just 43 the past two years combined. Pekovic's strongest campaign came in 2013-14 when he averaged 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds on 54.1 percent shooting.