He has missed, in three separate stints, a total of 45 games because of a badly sprained right ankle. His stats are down across the board from what was, a year ago, his breakthrough season. After turning his left ankle on consecutive plays in the 94-88 victory over Houston on Monday, Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson couldn't even limp properly, and he likely won't heal completely until sometime in July.

Still, that probably won't dissuade him from testing free agency this summer.

Hudson holds the option on a $2.8 million contract for next season but his agent, Bill Neff, said Monday that Hudson almost certainly will not exercise it. That would make him an unrestricted free agent, able to re-sign with the Wolves or any of the NBA's other 29 teams (Charlotte will be up and running by then).

"That doesn't mean you leave," Neff said. "That means you think you can do better than a one-year, [$2.8] million contract."

Given that one of Neff's clients, journeyman guard Kevin Ollie, signed a five-year, $15 million deal with Cleveland last summer, and that teams routinely guarantee more than Hudson's salary to untested rookies, the agent believed Hudson's value -- even after this injury-marred season -- would be high. It won't hurt, either, that the upcoming crop of available point guards will fade quickly after Steve Nash (who has a similar option with Dallas) and maybe Rafer Alston.

"Does that mean he leaves Minnesota? Absolutely not," Neff said. "When we did this contract, Rob Babcock and Kevin McHale felt he would be opting out. I think Kevin's words were, 'If you are not opting out, we're all going to be disappointed.' They expected it."

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves

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