Play could mean big payday

Rodney Carney has energized the Timberwolves with his defense, three-point shooting and athleticism.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: January 18, 2009 - 10:59 PM

LOS ANGELES - Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale calls the prospect a "long way off," but Rodney Carney's emergence during the team's recent winning ways and its decision last fall not to exercise his contract option might mean one thing if the third-year forward keep performing as he has.

He could make a bunch of money this summer.

"I could," he said with a grin after practice Sunday. "But I don't want to jinx anything."

The Wolves exercised contract options on Randy Foye and Corey Brewer in October but decided against guaranteeing Carney a raise from $1.6 million this season to $2.5 million next season. The decision will make him an unrestricted free agent in July.

The Wolves did so to give themselves time to evaluate a player -- and vice versa -- they acquired last summer as something of an afterthought in a trade with Philadelphia. They received a future first-round pick in return for accepting Carney, Calvin Booth and their salaries in a bit of salary-cap bookkeeping that let the 76ers sign free-agent Elton Brand to an $80 million deal.

They did the same thing with Sebastian Telfair -- whom they accepted in the seven-player deal that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston -- the year before and ended up signing Telfair in July to a $2.3 million salary that saved them $1.2 million this season. The team's desire to re-sign Telfair was one reason it traded second-round pick Mario Chalmers to Miami last summer.

"It gives you a chance to spend time around the guy, get a chance to know them," McHale said. "That was a big part of our decision in last year's draft. ... So I'm sure next summer we'll be saying we want to bring Rodney back. It's one of those things. We'll have to work a little harder because other teams will be in on it.

"But you hope with these guys that if they have some success and enjoy themselves and are in a situation where they're valued, they'll come back. But that's a long way off."

Carney has energized the team with his defense, three-point shooting and athleticism, particularly after Corey Brewer was lost in November to a season- ending knee injury.

Carney said McHale explained the decision before the season began and says he understands the reasoning.

"They said they have four first-round draft picks next year and a whole bunch of people under contract, so it was kind of hard for them to do that," Carney said. "I'm just going to go out there and play like I've been doing. ... I hope things keep going well."

If they do, he will get paid next summer. The Wolves cannot negotiate with him until July 1.

"Good for Rod, I'm happy for him," McHale said when asked about the possibility. "It couldn't happen to a nicer guy, couldn't happen to more of a professional kid."

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