MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett said he won't be rushed into deciding whether to play for the U.S. Olympic team.

Utah's Karl Malone, who has committed to play in the Olympic qualifying tournament this summer and the Summer Olympics in 2004, told The Associated Press on Sunday that he couldn't understand why Garnett and Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal are not jumping at the chance to play for Team USA.

But with contract negotiations looming and the Timberwolves in the hunt for a seventh consecutive playoff berth, Garnett said after practice Monday that he doesn't have a timetable for deciding.

Garnett also questioned why Malone didn't say anything to him when the Jazz played in Minneapolis last week.

"I'm not going to speed my thought process up and assess my situation any quicker than I already have because Karl Malone says something," Garnett said.

Garnett, who won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, noted that he would have to commit his next two summers to USA Basketball if he accepts the invitation to join.

"They want two summers in the door, and that's a lot," Garnett said. "It's a lot with 82-game seasons, it's a lot committing to that. If I play, I want to be productive. I don't want to be in a situation where I'm worn down, and I want to be in a position where I feel like I can help the team -- where I'm healthy enough."