Steve Aschburner of the Star Tribune reports that the Timberwolves will let pass today's deadline for signing swingman Wally Szczerbiak to a contract extension, despite Szczerbiak's willingness to accept a deal for less than the NBA's maximum salary scale.

Szczerbiak, 25, is eligible through today for an extension of up to six seasons, worth as much as $84 million according to projected maximum guidelines. In the offseason, Szczerbiak, a fourth-year player, and his agent, Gary Wichard, said they would seek that amount. It is similar to deals signed by other top products from the 1999 draft.

But Szczerbiak told Wichard on Friday to come down from that figure. "Wally told me, 'Come off the max to get a deal done,' " Wichard said. "He said, 'I like Minnesota, I like the fans here and I want to stay here and play with Kevin Garnett.' "

Team owner Glen Taylor has said that other financial concerns -- the looming luxury tax, the possibility of Terrell Brandon's salary coming off the team's cap figure if Brandon retires, Garnett's possible extension -- have made Szczerbiak's deal a lower priority. "It isn't the agent, it isn't Wally," Taylor said. "Circumstances are just more difficult on that one."

Szczerbiak already is under contract for this season at $2.9 million. If he doesn't sign an extension by tonight, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. The Wolves would be able to match any offer Szczerbiak received to retain his services or sign him to a deal otherwise negotiated.