Sprewell wants out

BY MIKE WELLS, Pioneer Press

Swingman says Wolves are dragging feet on a new deal

Latrell Sprewell thinks he will not receive a contract extension before Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, so the swingman wants a trade.

Sprewell, who is in the last year of his contract, added fuel to the fire Sunday when he said the contract the Wolves have offered him is "insulting."

"I pretty much told them I don't want what they're talking about," he said. "So if we can't work it out, work something out with somebody else."

The Wolves are believed to be offering Sprewell, 34, a three-year, $27 million extension, which likely is substantially more than what he would receive if he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. Some say Sprewell probably would be offered a team's midlevel exception, which is about $5.1 million a season, or slightly more than that if he becomes a free agent.

Sprewell doesn't believe the Wolves are offering enough for his value to the team. He told the Pioneer Press and a reporter from New York on Oct. 21 he wants a deal completed by Wednesday Sprewell never has negotiated during the season, and he won't continue talking once the season starts.

"I'm not trying to stay the year here, I will say that," he said. "If they don't want to sign me, I want to go somewhere else."

Coach Flip Saunders and owner Glen Taylor declined to comment. Vice president of operations Kevin McHale was unavailable for comment Sunday.

The Wolves have the final say in trading Sprewell, but that won't stop him from trying.

"I don't know, whatever I can," he said. "If they don't want to pay me, why would I want to stay here and risk injury and sit there and be with nothing, no contract? If something happens to me, who is going to look out for Spree then? Nobody."

A possible solution for Sprewell would be to play out his contract, help the Wolves in their quest for an NBA title, then leave as a free agent. He said he won't re-sign if he becomes a free agent.

"Why would I want to help them win a title?" he said. "They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed. Anything can happen; it's a long season. You never know."

Sprewell's $14.6 million salary this season is tied with eight other players for the ninth highest in the league. To put that into context, Sprewell's salary is more than double that of Indiana's Ron Artest and Detroit's Richard Hamilton, players who are more than five years younger and considered better than Sprewell.

Sprewell seems most upset about the timing. He thought something would be done more than three months ago. Sprewell had the option to walk away from his contact at the end of last season, but he says the Wolves gave him the impression he would have a new deal by the end of July. However, talks quickly ceased, leaving Sprewell wondering how important he is to the team.

"It's not tough; it's disappointing," he said. "You would think after what we were able to accomplish last year, they would be at least offering something decent."

Sprewell, who has an injured right ankle, went through a contact practice Sunday for the first time in a couple of weeks, but he is not sure if he will play Wednesday.

"It's not 100 percent. I'm able to run, but I'm still taking my time," he said. "I can play this way, but I'll see how I feel. I'll decide after Tuesday."

When he does take the court, Sprewell said he will play the way he always does, which is hard and with a lot of passion.

"I coach my guys when they step on the floor. My guys step on the floor, and they give me 100 percent and that's all I ask," Saunders said.

Sunday's was the latest episode in which Sprewell voiced animosity toward the front office. Besides setting a deadline for when he wanted an extension, Sprewell told the Pioneer Press on Friday that he was proving a point on how serious he is about getting a deal done when he skipped the team's luncheon Thursday at Target Center.

Wolves officials can try to disguise things all they want by saying the situation is not going to distract them from what they are trying to accomplish on the court, but with the season two days away, it looks as if the turmoil will carry into the season. Sam Cassell also is seeking an extension.

Nothing has been promised to Cassell, who has two years left on his deal, but all indications pointed to the Wolves taking care of Sprewell and then moving on to Cassell.

"I want what I deserve," Cassell said Friday. "Nothing more, nothing less. Me and Spree aren't valuable enough? Kevin is the man; me and Spree are his sidekicks. You pay this guy and that guy, and we're supposed to be happy about everything? It doesn't work like that."

Mike Wells covers the Timberwolves and the NBA. He can be reached at mwells@pioneerpress.com.

Updated on Monday, Nov 1, 2004 5:48 am EST

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Looks like Spree got a little Shaq in him , he seems to forget that he is 34 years old, and has reached his prime years ago. And what the hell?: "Ive got my family to feed", ohyeah...lets not forget the fact that you cant buy any decent meal for 14.6 million dollars a year.

Minnesota is turning in a mess (ofcourse Riot wont agree with me)

lets not forget the fact that you cant buy any decent meal for 14.6 million dollars a year.

Yeah well the price of chicken has gone up recently you know!

Yea I feel sorry for Riot. Twolvels had the chance to win a championship this year with the big 3. Unless they get someone better than Spree, then they won't be contending for a title this year because the Spurs will be better. Wally is a good shooter, but I don't think he can fill Spree's shoes.

Wally wants to be out aswell.

Trade Spree and Ervin Johnson for Tim Thomas and Jerome Williams, that's what I did in my dynasty...

Thats BS
If Spree was actually into winning a championship it wouldn't be all about the money to him, which is what it looks like
He is a good addition to the team and should be compensated for it, but I'm sure the guy has enough money to set him back pretty good does he not?

Trade Spree and Ervin Johnson for Tim Thomas and Jerome Williams, that's what I did in my dynasty...

i believe it was the Knicks owner, dolan, who wanted spree out of NY in the first place?

Anyway, Spree is on crack. He has like 5 years left in him, and he isn't no Jordan. He is already inconsistant, so imagine how much more inconsistant he will be in 5 years...wolves made a fair deal imo, 3 yrs, 27 is not bad.
Shaq is a little different though, 3-6 yrs down the line he still will be a force to be dealt with since he is still one of the top 5 players in the league. Spree on the other hand might be in the top 50, , and we talking in the 30s-40s

He has made a ton of money in the NBA and plus he has his own Rim Company, I think he has more than enough money to feed his family.

Wally has never said he wanted out but he said he wants his starting job back and wouldn't mind playing for New York.

I don't expect Ervin Johnson to go anywhere, he is a very good guy and knows his role. He loves the team and the team loves him. Same with Hoiberg and Hassell, they want to do whatever it takes for the team to win (I read 3 articles about all three of them).

But back to Sprewell. Trade him. He has a ton of value right now with that 14.6 mill coming off the books. Hell, maybe Sprewell for Jason Kidd or Rahim. I don't expect a trade to happen with Sprewell. I hope they can get a contract done.

The Wolves will still contend this year, they are one of the deepest teams in the league. We still have a load of talent (KG, Sam, Wally, Hassell, Hoiberg, Griffinn, Olowokandi, Madsen and whoever we get for Sprewell) if we decide to trade him. Right now I'm just worried about KG getting upset or Sam getting upset that the team isn't taking care of Sprewell and Cassell. I read an article that said McHale and Saunders want to get the deal done with Sprewell but the owner (Glen Taylor) doesn't think Sprewell is worth 3 years, 40 million (which is what he is asking).

I really dont know what to think bout this guy right now.I got respect for him.BUT HOW MUCH DAMN MONEY DO YOU REALLY NEED.27 million would be good enough for me.Thats a lifetime worth of money.Long as you smart with it.Your family dont need that much.IF we can trade him,trad'em.Ill still root for him.Long as his attitude doesnt get worse.We still In a good situation though.

1 million would be fine for me
If I could get a million dollars for playing basketball then hell I would love that

spree and wally are morons

spree and wally are morons

Damn straight.

You know what really bugs me? Sam Cassell wants a 3 year, 22 million extension. Which is reasonable, I mean...he was an all-star. But Sprewell (who, most people say, is a worse player) wants 3 years, 40 million. To me, that's a joke.

Im gonna say this again
WHY IN DA HELL DO YOU NEED 40 MILLION DOLLARS AND YOU ARE GETTIN OLD.WHAT IN THE HELL IZ U GONNA BUY

We still have a load of talent (KG, Sam, Wally, Hassell, Hoiberg, Griffinn, Olowokandi, Madsen

Check the last part of my signature

You forgot to bold Hoiberg as well

I can't understand what they do with all that money? Like 27 million isn't enough to feed your family for three years. I mean, how much does his family eat, he certainly doesn't look like he eats too much.

He can't get it into his head that he is not the player he used to be.

I'm disgusted. "feed my family"...WTF!!!!!!!

My mum used to feed my family with 1000 euro per month.
He's ridiculous,a shame..he doesn't deserve a penny.

It was one of my favorite player before this. Just this sentence alone made me change my mind.

Wtf could his family possibly eat that would require him to earn $14,000,000 a year

Wtf could his family possibly eat that would require him to earn $14,000,000 a year

They probably invite Shaq, Miller & Kemp to dinner on a regular basis.

Wtf could his family possibly eat that would require him to earn $14,000,000 a year

They probably invite Shaq, Miller & Kemp to dinner on a regular basis.

Well then I'm not surprised he needs the $27 million.

its funy how Jason Richardson is saying how the extantion is important because its money for 3 generations ahead! Now Sprewell does now like 14 mil.

David Stern made a comment about that and said he wants to do something about it. He should, fine Spree 14Mil and see is he can setill feed his family!

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincitie ... 092996.htm


Sprewell now says he is willing to take a pay cut. Hmm..do you think it's because everyone is getting on him about what he said?

Either the publics comments about his comments got to him or he realised that no team really came forward in the press saying they're remotely interested in him.

Why would they be? Not for that price they won't.

I release you guys have to register, ill post part of the article here.

Sprewell had set a deadline of Wednesday for getting a contract extension, but he said earlier this week that he would not mind getting a deal done later. Now he has changed his mind on taking a pay cut from his current $14.6 million salary.

"I'll be open to it, looking at everything," he said before Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks. "I wouldn't want to, but it's part of negotiating. "Me and (Kevin McHale), we're good. I respect him. I think he understands my position. He's just doing his job to save the team as much money as possible. It's my job to get as much as I can."

Sprewell is in the last year of his current deal and is seeking a two-year extension. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said there is nothing new in negotiations.

Sprewell said the Wolves have offered him a three-year deal for $21 million. "Going from 14 to 7 for what I've done for this team, I think I deserve more than that," he said

Kevin Garnett addressed Sprewell's situation for the first time by backing his teammate in saying that the issue wouldn't be a distraction.

"Only way it distracts is when it takes away from the team," Garnett said. "Obviously he has to deal with management, and that's just part of what has to be done. But in the locker room, the players are behind Spree. We're like brothers in here. We're like family. What goes on in this locker room stays in this locker room. Sometimes management and players conflict."

Sprewell appreciated Garnett's support.

"That's great. It's nice to see they're not feeding into all this spin some people are putting on all this stuff," he said.

spree has always been an asshole. was when he entered the league and will still be one when he finally leaves it. i hope they trade him right now while his value is maxed(he will never be more valuable in a trade than he is this season) and get a younger player to fill his spot.