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Offer to Garnett on the table
BY MIKE WELLS
Pioneer Press

The Timberwolves have offered all-star forward Kevin Garnett a contract extension, team owner Glen Taylor said Thursday. Now the question is, will Garnett take it?

"He hasn't been in town, so we don't know if he's going to sign it or not," Taylor said. "He knows our position."

Garnett, on vacation, is expected back in the Twin Cities within a few days. His agent, Andy Miller, didn't return phone calls Thursday but earlier this week declined comment when asked about the contract extension. Garnett and Wolves general manager Kevin McHale could not be reached for comment.

Because he signed his six-year, $126 million contract before the last collective bargaining agreement in 1998, Garnett is eligible for 105 percent of the last year of his contract. He is scheduled to make $28 million this season, the last year of his six-year deal. After that, Garnett, who could receive up to a five-year extension, would receive a 12.5 percent raise each year.

A person familiar with the negotiations said the Wolves are not offering Garnett the maximum salary.

Garnett would become a free agent next summer if the sides don't reach an agreement. Because any other team that tries to sign him must stay within its salary cap, Garnett can likely make more money with the Wolves, who are not bound by that stipulation.

The Wolves and Garnett have been discussing an extension for the past two years. If no deal is reached before the season starts Oct. 29 against Milwaukee, Taylor would like to halt negotiations until after the season.

"That would be my preference," Taylor said. "The team isn't going to need any distractions during the season. I'm hoping we can get something done before the season starts."

It wouldn't be surprising if Garnett decides to test the free-agent market, as New Jersey's Jason Kidd did last summer. Kidd, who has led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, flirted with an offer from the San Antonio Spurs before re-signing with the Nets for six years and $99 million.

Despite failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs the past seven seasons, the Wolves have worked hard to convince Garnett, their franchise player, they are committed to winning. Through trades or free agency, the Wolves added Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, Ervin Johnson, Mark Madsen, Michael Olowokandi and Fred Hoiberg during the offseason. They also drafted Houston high school player Ndudi Ebi in the first round of the June draft.

Cassell, Sprewell and Madsen have appeared in the NBA Finals.

Garnett is one of just four Wolves back from last season's team that finished 51-31. The others are point guard Troy Hudson, off guard Wally Szczerbiak and power forward Gary Trent.

Briefly: Taylor said the re-signing of free-agent forward Gary Trent will become official once the paperwork is cleared through the league office.