McHale has no plans to bench Brandon

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Terrell Brandon will be the Timberwolves starting point guard for the foreseeable future, despite his statements that he wouldn't mind relinquishing the job as early as next season.

"I didn't know he was running the team," said Kevin McHale, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations. "He's going to play as much and the way we want him to play. That's the way it works around here. So I'm not that worried about it."

McHale said Tuesday he was surprised by Brandon's comments to reporters after Monday's practice. McHale said he planned to talk to Brandon.

"He's in good shape and feeling good," McHale said. "It would be one thing if you had a guy who was chronically hurt saying, 'Man, I don't know how much more I've got.' But he's been healthy and playing really well. I'm not sure what he actually meant by all that stuff."

Brandon, who turned 31 in May, said he wouldn't mind coming off the bench next season to give a younger player more opportunity to play. Brandon averaged 36 minutes last season, his 10th in the NBA. He also said it's difficult to enjoy the game when he plays so many minutes.

Brandon's comments were surprising, considering he is only two seasons into a 6-year, $58.3 million contract. He is still owed $42.5 million over the next four years.

"I'm almost 32. It's time for me to take a step back and give a young player an opportunity, because I was that young player in Cleveland behind Mark Price, eager and waiting," Brandon said Monday. "I had to wait, but Mark eventually was like, 'He is ready.' I want to return the favor."

Brandon, who averaged 16 points and 7.5 assists a game in 2000-01, said he still plans on starting this year. But beginning in 2002-03, he'd like to become a reserve.