Wally Szczerbiak spends his summers back home in Cold Spring Harbor, cruising around the Long Island Sound on a boat, golfing with buddies at Bethpage Black and training at local gyms.

"I just enjoyed life on Long Island," he says.

His privileged lifestyle would be nearly perfect if Szczerbiak could arrange to live and work in the New York area year-round and play for the team he grew up supporting. That dream almost became a reality over the summer before trade talks between the Knicks and Timberwolves broke down. For Szczerbiak, the deal was like the big fish that got away.

"The Knicks are an exciting opportunity. They've always been an exciting team that I would love to play for. That's home for me," said Szczerbiak, who scored 20 points in the Timberwolves' 102-82 preseason win over the Knicks last night in Sioux Falls, S.D. "But right now camp is going well. I'm happy that I'm healthy and that I can compete at a high level again. I want to help the Timberwolves win the championship."

However, training camp has gotten off to an ominous start. Sam Cassell, upset over his contract, which doesn't expire until after next season, staged a one-day holdout. His name already has surfaced in a multi-team deal for Jason Kidd, a Garnett favorite. On Thursday, Latrell Sprewell criticized Wolves management for not offering him a contract extension.

And Szczerbiak, who missed the first 53 games last season with a foot injury and then returned as a reserve, does not see himself as a sixth man.

"I've made it known that I'd like to start," he says.

Minnesota has some interest in the Knicks' Kurt Thomas, but the T-Wolves turned down an offer of Thomas and Moochie Norris for Szczerbiak because the Wolves don't want Norris' contract.

"That would have been a great move for us," Sprewell said of Thomas, one of the few former Knicks he still keeps in contact with. "He would be perfect for this team. No question."