MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday exercised the 2002-03 contract option on forward Wally Szczerbiak, who ignored trade rumors this summer to star in the Goodwill Games.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the option is worth no less than $2.3 million for the 2002-03 season. The Timberwolves also retain the right of first refusal when Szczerbiak becomes a restricted free agent after that campaign.
The sixth pick in the 1999 draft, Szczerbiak started all 82 games last season, averaging 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the field and 87 percent from the line.
Szczerbiak was Most Valuable Player of the Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend, scoring 27 points for the sophomores. A week later, his name was mentioned in a possible trade to the Chicago Bulls.
Those rumors persisted throughout the summer, but Szczerbiak was able to play through them, helping the United States to a gold medal in the Goodwill Games in Australia. He averaged 13.0 points and shot nearly 70 percent from the field in five games.
"Wally has established himself as one of the best young players in the league," Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale said. "His contributions to the team the last two seasons are very apparent. The entire organization is looking forward to Wally being a part of this team for many seasons."
As a rookie, the 6-7 Szczerbiak averaged 11.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 73 games in the 1999-2000 season.
