Already suspended indefinently by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Loren Woods saga began a new chapter yesterday when Woods defied a team directive and missed practice.

The unexcused absence costs him an immediate $2,500 fine, but the real frustration, according to Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, lies with the coaching staff who were hoping to begin repairing the damage caused by his profane outburst at the coaching staff earlier this week.

Woods has been upset about his diminished role on the team, and the situation apparently is serious enough that his agent Matt Muehlebach might fly in for discussions to defuse the situation.  "There are some issues we have to resolve with the team," said Muehlebach, whose client cannot be traded by the Wolves as his contract does not allow it.

I believe I can be a real valuable asset to the team and I'm going to do everything I can to do that. I had no intention of being disrespectful to anyone in the organization," Woods said through his agent.

GM Kevin McHale said he has no plans on releasing the 7-1 Woods, but he will not give into his demands either.

"I would be a lot more concerned if we were talking about Kevin Garnett," McHale said. "At some point, you have to evaluate yourself and say, 'This is what I'm doing. This is what I have to work on to get better.' There are very few jobs in the world where you can go tell [off] your boss. This is not a job where you want to be doing that too often."