Camp, Day 3: Pek rests and Budinger, Barea impress

Day 3 -- and the last of two days of two-a-day practices -- is over for the Wolves at training camp in Mankato and they've come through the opening five practice in relatively good shape, save for Glenn Robinson III's minor ankle sprain.

Nikola Pekovic didn't practice Thursday morning -- the major workout in a day when the Wolves just went for about an hour's walk-through at night -- but Flip Saunders called it a precautionary measure intended to limit the wear-and-tear on Pekovic's ankles.

He said they'll continue to do the same throughout the season, whenever the Wolves encounter a heavy game or practice portion of their schedule.

Saunders talked Thursday about what he has seen so far, mentioning vets Chase Budinger and J.J. Barea as among the camp's best performers so far and newly acquired Anthony Bennett as perhaps its most surprising.

Budinger, of course, is coming back from two injury-filled seasons when he underwent two knee surgeries twice in a span of 10 months.

"He's starting to get his legs under him," Saunders said. "He really hasn't had a training camp in two years. The last training camp he had was the lockout year, which was seven day. So this is a whole process for him to get to where he wants to get."

Actually, Budinger participated in 2012 training camp, after he was acquired that June for the 18th overall pick Houston used to take Terrence Jones.

That team, Saunders noted, has won a bunch of scrimmage games.

(Don't tell that, though, to those Wolves fans who have been counting the days until the team trades or buys out Barea).

"He and JJ, they've played really well," Saunders said. "They've bought in what we're doing and their teams have been winning a lot of games. So they've done some really good things."

Before camp started, Saunders said Barea probably was the best player in last season's camp.

"He was," Saunders said. "Like I told him, he just has to keep doing things in the system, and not get carried away too much. He has shown good leadership, gotten guys into plays, hasn't tried to do too much."

Presumably, that leaves little room for Barea. We'll see if Saunders can figure out how to find time for all of 'em: Barea, Williams, Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine.

Look for Saunders to use Budinger at both wing spots and maybe some power forward, too.

"I think he can play some 4 against certain teams," Saunders said. "Like how New York used (Steve) Novak and Houston used (Matt Bullard). He's long, athletic and can put a lot of pressure on you by being able to spread the floor, if that's something you want to do."