On Tuesday, Garnett was selected as the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner for his outstanding community work in 2005-06, highlighted by his donation of 1.2 million dollars towards building one home a month for two years for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The Star Tribune's Steve Aschburner, president of the Pro Basketball Writers Association, presented the award to KG in a ceremony on the Target Center's main floor. Past winners of the award include Julius "Dr. J" Irving, Magic Johnson and David Robinson.

"From the many awards that I've won, I'd have to say that this is probably the most gratifying, just because of what comes out of it," said Garnett. "If anything, I'd like to be an example in helping others give also."

Despite being in the middle of his rehab for a surgically repaired knee, the Wolves will pick up the third year option on Rashad McCants contract.

"We like Shaddy," McHale said Monday after the team's practice. "We're going to pick it up. The only way we wouldn't have was if his rehab wasn't going well, to the point where you said, 'The poor kid is never going to do it.' That's not the case."

McCants, from the National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels, was the 14th pick in the draft, he was paid $1.54 million in his first year and will get $1.65 million this season. The option will lock in the guard's salary for 2007-08 at $1.77 million.

On Sunday, the Wolves trimmed their roster by releasing guard Tyrone Ellis and forward Paul Shirley.

Their roster now stands at 15.

Shirley and Ellis both played for the Wolves during the Vegas Summer League.

New drunk driving charges have been filed against the man convicted in the drunken driving accident that killed Malik Sealy of the Minnesota Timberwolves in May of 2000.

Souksangouane Phengsene, 50, of Shakopee, was arrested in
Crystal on Saturday and was charged with two counts of drunk
driving Monday in Hennepin County District Court.

Kevin Garnett and Trenton Hassell had adjacent dressing areas at Conseco Fieldhouse and were joking around with each other, putting to rest any possible lingering effects of their argument from Sunday's practice.

"It was me and another player," he said, declining to offer a name. "KG was trying to get us together as a team, and I'm kind of stubborn when I'm mad. Then [Garnett] said something to me, and I said something to him."

Trenton Hassell has been playing shooting guard for the Wolves, despite the fact that he rarely attempted 3-point shots, but this is going to change this season.

"It's not his main thing, but Trenton has good three-point range," said assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg. "He shoots it well in the summer, and he's worked on it a lot."

Said Hassell, 1-for-2 after two preseason games: "Maybe I can open up the middle more for [Garnett]. I'm just trying to add that. In my mind, I'm only going to get better if I shoot them in a game."

Kevin Garnett, one of the NBA's elder statesman and by all accounts one of the league's finest gentlemen, is not a fan of the new policy regarding complaints to the referees.

"The people that get the techs are emotional people. Do we cross the line sometimes? We walk it. ... If you want to fine the individual person, that's what it is," Kevin Garnett said after Wednesday's game.

"To the fact that you can't really speak to the refs, the refs don't want to hear it. That's almost like Communism. That's like Castro."

Kevin Garnett is optimistic about Minnesota's chances to have a successful season.

"I think we have the potential to be very good," Garnett said. "We're clicking at a very early stage, so that's very good. And we're working hard. Those are some of the key components of a strong team, so I feel very good about that.

"It's good to have more talent on the team," Garnett said. "I don't think relaxed is the right word. Having a lot more talent, talent that can take some of the responsibility off of (me), not just scoring but the locker room, etc. But relaxed wouldn't be a good word. Happy, confident, feeling good, bonding, those are the words I would use."

Glen Taylor was recently interviewed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and reiterated his desire to put a winning team on the floor that includes Kevin Garnett.

"Right after the playoffs, when I met with him, it was already then that he basically started changing. I saw him changing.

"Then this summer, you guys heard him say some stuff (in a SLAM Magazine interview). But that wasn't consistent with what he was doing with the team. He was practicing. He was doing all that. He was meeting with the guys. He was taking guys out for dinner. He was doing all kinds of stuff like that, which he hadn't done for a little while."

Taylor was then asked about rumors about his possible interest in selling the team.

"No, I'm not interested in selling it now. I still like it. Last year wasn't fun, but I still like the challenge of it. I really want to win.

"People say we're going to change Kevin (Garnett) and this type of stuff. Yeah, Kevin could leave, and I could probably make more money. But I want to see if we can win with him and build some guys around him."

Marko Jaric is looking for a fresh start.

At the end of last season, the 6-foot-7 guard was tired, disappointed and frustrated. He'd lost his spot in the Timberwolves' starting lineup, and on some nights, he'd lost his place in the rotation.

"I couldn't wait for last season to end," Jaric said. "I was not happy with my situation, and I'm sure the team was not happy with me."

So he spent the offseason improving his quickness, ball-handling and attitude.

"I've worked hard, and I'm even more hungry to show people who I am," he said. "I feel like I'm ready for this season."

Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said Wednesday he's seen the change. When Jaric came to camp last year after a trade for Sam Cassell and a No. 1 draft choice, he had tired legs and a tired mind from playing in a tournament for the Yugoslavian national team.