Not playing for the Timberwolves was one thing. Not playing for the Golden State Warriors is quite another for center Dean Garrett.

With the Wolves, at least, Garrett -- who spent five of his six NBA seasons with Minnesota before being dealt to Golden State on Feb. 21 -- was on a playoff team, surrounded by friends close enough to feel like family. With the Warriors, the 35-year-old travels and plays with relative strangers for the second-worst team in the league -- Tuesday night's 115-106 victory at Target Center not withstanding.

His workload, if anything, has declined. Garrett played 152 minutes in 29 games with the Wolves this season but he has appeared in only three of Golden State's 18 games since the trade. That's 12 minutes, 3-for-10 shooting, four rebounds and one block.

His future, obviously, is not with the Warriors.

"I came into this year's camp in real good shape," Garrett said, busy before the game visiting with former teammates, coaches, staff and even arena ushers. "This year, I'm going to go back home and do the same thing. I know I'm not done. I know that. I want to get with the right team where I fit."

Garrett has had to cope with all the inconveniences of an abruptly traded player -- switching cities, fitting in and, Tuesday night, making sure he went to the visitors' locker room.

The Wolves, however, have gone through plenty, too. They are 6-10 since Garrett was dealt and -- unlike Golden State, where each new loss means little -- have slid down the Western Conference standings.

"I feel bad for my teammates," Garrett said, "because I know how hard they worked, how hard they prepared trying to get one of the top four spots.