Walker irked but won't make a fuss

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: March 4, 2008 - 12:11 AM

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Antoine Walker is still here, and he's not happy about it. But, the forward said, he won't be a problem over the final six weeks of the season.

Walker had hoped to negotiate a buyout with the Wolves that would have allowed him to join a playoff-caliber team.

"I thought there would be an opportunity for me to leave," Walker said after Monday's practice. "But they wanted money back I wasn't willing to give back. So it didn't work out that way."

Walker is due to be paid $9,320,500 next season, the last year on his deal. He wouldn't say how much the team had asked him to forgo in order to get a buyout done.

"It wasn't even reasonable," he said. "It was way off the charts. It was ridiculous, actually. ... They wanted a lot off my contract next year. I'm not in a position to do that. I wouldn't do that."

Walker said he is no longer pursuing a buyout, as he wouldn't be able to join another team and be on a playoff roster now. He said he hopes that being in the final year of his deal will make it easier for the Wolves to trade him next summer. On a team developing its youth, Walker has been inactive for the past six games. That probably won't change much over the final six weeks of the season.

"They're rebuilding, and obviously I'm not in their future plans," Walker said. "I'll have to play it out, six weeks, and see what happens in the summer. But there is no question, it's like a wasted year for me, personally. I didn't want to be put in this situation, I was afraid of this coming in. This turned out to be a terrible situation for me. So I just have to keep working. I like the guys on the team; I'm pulling for these guys."

The business side of the equation will likely make Walker a more valuable asset in trade talks this summer. Any team getting him will be not only getting Walker but also salary flexibility after his contract is up.

Walker isn't happy, but he said he wouldn't cause a disruption between now and the end of the season.

"Whatever they're trying to do, more power to them," Walker said. "I got traded into this situation. I'm disappointed. I love to play, and I'm not being allowed to do it, and it hurts. But I'll be professional about it. I'll root the guys on. If they want me to play, I'll play."

Brewer hurt

Rookie Corey Brewer sustained a right thigh contusion while fouling Seattle's Kevin Durant late in Sunday's game. He was unable to practice Monday and is very unlikely to play tonight against Charlotte.

"It flared up overnight on him pretty good," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "So we'll have to see how he is [today]. He could barely walk on it [Monday]."

Meanwhile, Marko Jaric, who has a thigh contusion of his own, was able to do some limited work in practice.

Both, officially, will be game-time decisions.

Etc.

• Wittman dialed down the intensity of practice Monday to make sure the Wolves conserve energy. On Sunday, the Wolves started a stretch in which they will play five games in seven nights.

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