Maurice Evans has done this before and he didn't like it then, either.

Evans, a rookie shooting guard with the Timberwolves, sat out the 1999-2000 college basketball season after transferring from Wichita State to Texas. Now it seems as if Evans is sitting out the 2001-02 NBA season, tucked conveniently on the Wolves' injured list with something called posterior tibialis tendinitis of his left knee.

It's a formality, a way to keep Evans around while he watches, learns, practices with the club and does a lot of unseen sweating in workouts with strength coach Sol Brandys. It's been this way for 22 games now, with no change in sight.

"It's not fun and it is a lot of work," Evans said recently. "But you've got to work for whatever you want in life."

When Felipe Lopez went on the injured list last week, the Wolves activated point guard William Avery rather than Evans, who plays Lopez's position. One reason: Upcoming opponents Utah and Sacramento frequently use two smaller guards. Another reason: Avery has more experience, is being paid about four times Evans' $332,817 rookie salary and is in the final year of his contract. The Wolves hold an option on Evans for next season.