Timberwolves hire Casey

Dwane Casey will get his first crack at head coaching with a veteran team coming off the most disappointing season of its 16-year history.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, aware of the risk, saw a greater potential for reward in the longtime Seattle SuperSonics assistant.

Pledging hard work, better defense, strong communication, consistency and improved chemistry, Casey was introduced Friday as Minnesota’s new coach. He takes over a team that wilted under high expectations following a Western Conference finals appearance, finished 44-38 and tumbled out of the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

But the 48-year-old Casey is confident the Timberwolves don’t need an overhaul – just some tweaks, especially on the defensive end.

“They had a hiccup last season,” he said. “It’s not a team that’s down.”

Casey agreed to a five-year contract, with only three years guaranteed.

Owner Glen Taylor declined to divulge specific terms, but he characterized the deal as “first-time coach money.”

Iavaroni interested in Portland job, but no offer yet

Phoenix Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni shot down a report that he had been offered the head coaching job of the Portland Trail Blazers, but acknowledged that he remains an interested candidate.

“I don’t know what the process is,” Iavaroni said after the Suns’ coaching staff watched a group of potential draft picks work out at America West Arena. “I just know that they told us that they’d get back to us when they’re ready to do something further.”

The Oregonian, in its Friday editions, quoted an anonymous source close to the talks as saying Iavaroni had been offered the position and would accept it as early as Friday. The Trail Blazers denied the report.

“We have not extended an offer to Marc Iavaroni or anyone else,” Blazers spokesman Mike Hanson said.

According to several reports, the Blazers were waiting to see whether Nate McMillan would remain as coach of the SuperSonics.

McMillan’s contract with the Sonics expires on June 30, and the two sides are talking daily on a new deal.

Diogu works out for Suns, still undecided on going pro

Pacific-10 Conference player of the year Ike Diogu worked out for the Suns, then said he probably will wait until just before next week’s deadline to decide whether he will make himself available for the NBA draft.

Diogu, a second-team all-America, has not hired an agent, so he could return for his senior season at Arizona State.

The deadline for players to declare themselves for the June 28 draft is 9 p.m. Arizona time on Monday.

“I think I need all the time I can get because it’s going to be a big, tough decision,” he said after the workout.

Diogu, the third player in Pac-10 history to lead the conference in scoring (22.6 points per game) and rebounding (9.8), said his decision will be based on how high he expects to go.

“Any time you think about leaving school early, you definitely want to go in the first round,” he said. “So much stuff is said in the draft, you really don’t know.”

Riley wants Shaq to stay in Miami for a long time

Shaquille O’Neal is under contract to the Miami Heat for one more year. Not surprisingly, Heat president Pat Riley wants him around much longer.

Riley plans to build around O’Neal for several upcoming seasons, and hopes the team can sign the 12-time All-Star to a deal allowing him to end his career in Miami.

O’Neal’s contract situation – he can opt out of his existing deal and become a free agent this summer, although it’s doubtful he’ll leave Miami – is the biggest issue facing the Heat these days.

“We have agreed to agree to agree to move forward,” Riley said. “And it would be absolute insanity not to try to work out … a deal that’s going to keep Shaquille O’Neal in Miami for the next four or five years.”

Until the O’Neal matter is settled, the Heat likely won’t make any significant personnel moves.

O’Neal – who’s set to make $30.6 million for 2005-06 – averaged 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds this season for Miami, which won 59 games and was the No. 1 seed for the East playoffs.

Riley said he and O’Neal’s representatives, Perry Rogers and Mike Parris, have not discussed specific dollar amounts or other terms of what may be part of a new deal.

But the basic guidelines are clear.

“Shaquille’s going to be the highest-paid player in this game,” Riley said.