Looks like Latrell Sprewell will be in Minnesota for awhile after excersising his option to make $14.625 million this season. He had until midnight Wednesday to take that salary for 2004-05 or opt out and become a free agent. Sprewell's agent, Robert Gist, and Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale wanted to wait until Thursday to announce the decision.

Now, Gist and McHale will speak this summer about a three-year contract extension for Sprewell. That would keep him in Minnesota through 2008, when he will be 37.

"Kevin wants to extend, and Latrell wants to accept," Gist said Thursday. "It's been a good team and a good place to play. And there's certainly less distractions there."