The internal bickering has already started in Minneapolis, with key forward Latrell Sprewell showing his displeasure towards the Timberwolves for failing to work out an extension.

Sprewell said Friday he doesn't plan on rushing back from his ankle injury, and he indicated it wasn't an accident that he missed the team's kickoff luncheon Thursday at the Target Center.  Sprewell also indicated that there hasn't been any communication with Wolves officials in the past week about a possible contract extension, an issue he believes should have been resolved in July.

"There's been nothing said," he said. "I'm just going to see what happens."

Sprewell then missed what was supposed to be a mandatory gathering for the kickoff luncheon, then when asked if he was trying to prove a point, Sprewell said, "Yeah, you can say that."

Point guard Sam Cassell, currently battling the flu, was also absent from the gathering.

Sprewell set a Nov. 3 deadline last week to get an extension done or he said he would leave via free agency at the end of the season.

Wally Szczerbiak spends his summers back home in Cold Spring Harbor, cruising around the Long Island Sound on a boat, golfing with buddies at Bethpage Black and training at local gyms.

"I just enjoyed life on Long Island," he says.

His privileged lifestyle would be nearly perfect if Szczerbiak could arrange to live and work in the New York area year-round and play for the team he grew up supporting. That dream almost became a reality over the summer before trade talks between the Knicks and Timberwolves broke down. For Szczerbiak, the deal was like the big fish that got away.

"The Knicks are an exciting opportunity. They've always been an exciting team that I would love to play for. That's home for me," said Szczerbiak, who scored 20 points in the Timberwolves' 102-82 preseason win over the Knicks last night in Sioux Falls, S.D. "But right now camp is going well. I'm happy that I'm healthy and that I can compete at a high level again. I want to help the Timberwolves win the championship."

However, training camp has gotten off to an ominous start. Sam Cassell, upset over his contract, which doesn't expire until after next season, staged a one-day holdout. His name already has surfaced in a multi-team deal for Jason Kidd, a Garnett favorite. On Thursday, Latrell Sprewell criticized Wolves management for not offering him a contract extension.

And Szczerbiak, who missed the first 53 games last season with a foot injury and then returned as a reserve, does not see himself as a sixth man.

"I've made it known that I'd like to start," he says.

Minnesota has some interest in the Knicks' Kurt Thomas, but the T-Wolves turned down an offer of Thomas and Moochie Norris for Szczerbiak because the Wolves don't want Norris' contract.

"That would have been a great move for us," Sprewell said of Thomas, one of the few former Knicks he still keeps in contact with. "He would be perfect for this team. No question."

Latrell Sprewell's latest antagonist is the Minnesota Timberwolves' front office and their owner Glen Taylor, who has yet to finalize a contract extension that Sprewell believes should have been completed in July. With 12 days until Minnesota's Nov.3 season opener against the Knicks, Sprewell yesterday issued a warning to the team: "If they don't do anything before the season it could lead to potential problems.

"They're not showing the interest that they want to keep me," Sprewell added. "For what I've done and Sam (Cassell) have done for the organization, I think it would be somewhat of a smack in the face if they don't step up and get something done. If not, I would take it as it's time for me to go somewhere else."

Sprewell, 34, is scheduled to make $14.6 million this season and is hoping to receive a three-year contract extension worth $40 million. The Wolves are believed to be offering a deal for approximately $30 million over three years, but Sprewell made it clear yesterday that he's "not trying to take a pay cut.

"A lot of other guys out there are not even doing as well as I am and are still making as much if not more," he said.

The Wolves are trying to exercise fiscal responsibility while trying to contend, and many feel they could win the NBA title in June. Sprewell is a major reason why Minnesota, which had never won a playoff series before last season, advanced to the Western Conference finals, where the Wolves lost to the Lakers in six games.

"That's where I'm coming from," Sprewell said. "This team has never gotten out of the first round. We come here, we do what we have to do and we almost get to the Finals. If they're not going to take care of us ... it's a slap in the face.

"People will smile in your face and then stab you in the back. That's the nature of the business."

Sam Cassell had surgery on his hip following the Minnesota Timberwolves loss to the L.A. Lakers in the Western Confernce finals.

Cassell has made 13 of 35 shots in three preseason games. That's a 37.1 shooting percentage, far below last season's 48.8 percent.

"The other night was the first night I decided to go full-blast and make some shots," he said of the Wolves' 93-92 loss to Indiana Tuesday. In 27 minutes, he made seven of 15 shots.

"I don't want to show 'em everything right now," Cassell said. "For anyone who thinks I can't shoot the basketball, we'll see Nov. 2."

If Karl Malone decides to return to the NBA, his short list will be the Lakers, Spurs and Wolves, in that order.

With Eddie Griffin on board, the Wolves should be covered at the power forward position, so despite their attempts at signing Malone, there won't be too big of a void without him.

Forward Eddie Griffin, trying to make the Timberwolves squad, will (if he makes the team) be suspended without pay for the first three games of the regular season.

'The suspension was in response to Griffin's guilty plea to a misdemeanor assault charge in an incident in Texas last year, when Griffin was on the Houston Rockets. As a rule, NBA players found guilty or pleading guilty to criminal charges are suspended by the league.'

"We understand today's decision by the NBA," Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale said in a statement. "It addresses an event from Eddie's past, and we know that Eddie regrets the incident and is deeply sorry that it occurred."

Griffin was the 7th pick in the 2001 NBA draft.

He has career averages of 8.7 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Lats season Griffin was suspended by the Rockets for missing practice and missign a flight. During his suspension he was charged with aggravated assault for punching and shooting at a woman.

Also, in 2003 he was charged with possession of marijuana; and was suspended for fighting in college.

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven't given up on trying to sign free agent Karl Malone.

Malone, who is skipping training camp because of a tender knee, has assured the Timberwolves they'll receive serious consideration if he decides to return to the court for the regular season.

Malone visited the Lakers training camp on a personal level recently, causing speculation that he'd resign with them if he decides to play this season.

Wally Szczerbiak has heard all the whispers and the rumors surrounding his future in the league, but he isn't letting it get to him.

"People for some reason forget what I was capable of doing when I was healthy," Szczerbiak said after a recent practice. "I just came in, worked hard, wanted to be ready to go and kind of remind people what I did for a few years in this league."

Word from his teammates is that Szczerbiak has been doing exactly this during training camp, and he looks ready to once again make his mark in the league.  But will it be in Minnesota?

"I've had a great experience with the Timberwolves," Szczerbiak said. "It's been a real fun five years. But I'm prepared, if I get traded, to go kick butt somewhere else. That's how you've got to be in this business."

"I've heard those rumors time and time again," Szczerbiak said, who has been linked to both Portland and New York during the offseason. "But I'm still here, so obviously they think we can both help them. Trenton (Hassell) and I are both committed to helping them win."

While Isiah Thomas is more than willing to wheel and deal with any team who will listen, he continues having a hard time finding new homes for Shandon Anderson, Kurt Thomas and Moochie Norris.

According to the New York Daily News and as reported elsewhere the Knicks have tried on several occasions to acquire Minnesota small forward Wally Szczerbiak.

The Timberwolves, however, have turned down the Knicks' offer of Thomas and backup point guard Moochie Norris, whom Thomas insisted Chicago take in the Jamal Crawford deal only a few months ago, causing the deal to linger and almost break down on multiple occasions.

Sam Cassell's preseason holdout appears to be a short-lived one.

Cassell's unexcused absence from media day and the first day of training camp might end in time for today's single practice at St. John's University, Wolves owner Glen Taylor said Tuesday night. Taylor said he spoke with the veteran point guard earlier in the day and felt confident Cassell's unofficial holdout was ending.

A contract extension beginning with the 2006-07 season was believed to be one of Cassell's issues. Another might have been an offseason trade rumor that had Cassell being packaged to New Jersey in a deal for Jason Kidd, agent Charles Tucker said.

Taylor said no contract talks have been promised to Cassell, but he did assure the 11-year veteran that his future with the Wolves is bright.

"When [the rumor] came up this summer, I talked to Sam about it," Taylor said. "I told him, 'It didn't come from us. You're our guy. But the call has come.' He's really pushed that he wants to be a leader and be a part of our organization for a long time."

"It's no problem," Taylor said. "I'm awfully sure Sam will be in camp [today]. I knew there were personal concerns ... I don't think it's a big deal."