MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Wally Szczerbiak to a contract extension that locks up the All-Star forward-guard for the long term.

	Szczerbiak

Coming off a career season with the Wolves, Szczerbiak signed a six-year deal worth $63 million, a team source told The Associated Press on Friday night.

"I can't say enough how excited I am and how thankful I am,'' Szczerbiak said before Minnesota's home game against the Orlando Magic.

The deal, which was reached late Thursday night, narrowly beat the 11 p.m. deadline for signing the 1999 first-round draft picks to extensions.

Had the deal not been completed, Szczerbiak would have become a restricted free agent after this season, meaning the Wolves would have the right to match any offer he garnered on the open market.

The agreement was a surprise for both sides.

Szczerbiak and his agent, Gary Wichard, had been asking for the maximum salary allowed for a player of his experience. Last week, Wolves owner Glen Taylor told reporters that he didn't think the deal would get done in time. The feeling was mutual.

"I didn't think it was going to get done Wednesday night,'' Szczerbiak said.

But Wolves vice president Kevin McHale said Szczerbiak and Wichard "made a significant move to try to get closer to us,'' and the negotiations picked up.

The reason: Szczerbiak simply wanted to stay in Minnesota.

"He just made it very clear to Kevin and I that this is where he wanted to stay,'' Taylor said.

Wichard didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Szczerbiak averaged 18.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season and made his first All-Star team. But his ride with the Wolves hasn't always been smooth. A magazine article last year depicted Szczerbiak as a brash, selfish young player who was at odds with star forward Kevin Garnett over who got the spotlight.

Both Szczerbiak and Garnett said the article was bogus.

Szczerbiak's numbers also declined after the All-Star break as opposing defenses keyed in on him. The loss of point guard Terrell Brandon to knee surgery also hurt.

But the fourth-year player from Miami (Ohio) said he believes the Timberwolves, who have been eliminated from the first round of the playoffs for the last six seasons, have the ability to be one of the NBA's elite teams.

"After three years, what I've gone through and the progression I've made, it says a lot for the way this organization is being run. And I was just very, very happy with the direction of where it was going and the ability of Kevin and Flip and the coaching staff and the players just to elevate each others' games,'' he said.

Szczerbiak hasn't played since Oct. 8, when he dislocated a toe in his left foot during a preseason game against Milwaukee. He sat out Friday night's game against the Magic.

Szczerbiak said the pain flared up during practice on Thursday and would be day to day. But while his return is uncertain, his paychecks are not.

"This is an exciting day, but at the same time, it's a day that's going to have to propel me to play well,'' Szczerbiak said.