Here is the test, Timberwolves fans. Think back to this summer when the rumor mill kept churning out the proposed trade of Terrell Brandon, Wally Szczerbiak and Rasho Nesterovic to Seattle for point guard Gary Payton and others.

Did you happily envision Payton flying up and down the court, bringing his high energy, surly attitude and ultra-competitiveness to Target Center? Did you call newspapers and radio talk shows wondering why in the world Wolves officials didn't make it happen? Did you view Payton as the guy who could finally get the Wolves past the first round of the playoffs?

OK, now raise your hand if you still feel the same way. There are those who probably would still love to see Payton in a Wolves uniform, but the deal doesn't seem as one-sided as it once did.

Brandon is still Brandon, a point guard who is steady but not flashy. But Szczerbiak appears to be past his knee problems and has blossomed into a legitimate No. 2 scoring option, and Nesterovic, coming off a 24-point outing against San Antonio, continues to surprise.

More importantly and perhaps not coincidentally, the Wolves are 10-2 entering tonight's game at Seattle.