Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale was reassured Thursday by Latrell Sprewell's agent that the 11-year NBA veteran is excited about joining his new team.

McHale spoke with Bob Gist, who confirmed details of the four-team trade with his client late Wednesday night. McHale had yet to speak directly with Sprewell as of Thursday night.

Sprewell lives in the Milwaukee area during the offseason and is vacationing on a boat on Lake Michigan. McHale said he left a message for Sprewell on his cell phone.

"It's not a big concern that he and I haven't talked,'' McHale said of Sprewell. "We knew he had something planned this week.''

McHale hopes to bring Sprewell to the Twin Cities next week for a physical exam and a news conference. The trade will not be official until Sprewell and the other five players involved in the deal ? Terrell Brandon, Marc Jackson, Glenn Robinson, Keith Van Horn and Randy Holcomb ? pass physicals. Brandon, who was dealt to Atlanta, is not expected to undergo a physical because he plans to retire.

McHale said he considers Sprewell's physical a formality. Sprewell, 32, has been one of the league's more durable players since he joined the Golden State Warriors as a rookie in 1992. He averaged 77.7 games in nine of his 11 seasons. He was suspended for 68 games for attacking then-Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo in December 1997, and there was a players' strike in 1998-99. Sprewell appeared in only 51 games over those two seasons.