Aug. 2, 1999
SportsLine wire reports

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves Monday signed forward Wally Szczerbiak, the sixth overall pick and the first senior selected in the NBA Draft.

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Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Szczerbiak will receive $5.28 million over three years. The team holds a $2.3 million option for a fourth season.

"We are pleased to have Wally on board," said Timberwolves coach-general manager Flip Saunders. "He's a smart player and a solid shooter. We feel he can contribute immediately."

The 6-8, 243-pound Szczerbiak recently played with Team USA in the Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas. He averaged 3.4 points on 50 percent shooting (15-of-30) as Team USA captured the gold medal and qualified for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

THE TIMBERWOLVES MAY TURN OUT to be a perfect fit for Szczerbiak, who will likely play at small forward. With All-Star Kevin Garnett at power forward, Szczerbiak should be able to effectively utilize his perimeter game.

Szczerbiak led Miami (Ohio) to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last year, scoring a career-high 43 points in a first-round victory over Washington.

Wally Szczerbiak's past two seasons at Miami (Ohio) caught the eyes of many NBA scouts.(AP)

Although Szczerbiak went to a small school, pro scouts have known about him the last three years. "Wally World" was fully thrust onto the national scene last season, when he averaged 24.2 points and 8.5 rebounds for the RedHawks.

Szczerbiak finished with 1,849 points at Miami and led the 1998 U.S. Goodwill Games team to a gold medal, averaging 17.2 points per game.

The Timberwolves have yet to sign guard William Avery, their second first-round pick and 14th overall selection.

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