But that doesn't mean he wants to go anywhere.

"I hope I've found a home in Minnesota," where he signed a five-year, $10 million contract in August, the Timberwolves forward said Monday. "I don't want to go anywhere."

Yet Madsen is frequently the object of trade rumors, some of which have him headed to Utah. "In fact, one of the [Minneapolis] writers came up to me and said, 'Did you hear about the possible trade?' " Madsen recalled. "I thought, now what? I said, 'Can you check that out for me? Let me know?' " he joked.

The rumors are mostly a logical extension of the Jazz's interest last summer, when they offered a contract that Madsen called "competitive." The five-year veteran was negotiating with the Wizards and Jazz, and hadn't heard from the Wolves, "so I was really considering it. Minnesota was working on the [Marko] Jaric trade and some other things, and I wasn't exactly sure where they were with me. . . . I gave [Utah] some serious consideration."

When Wolves general manager Kevin McHale finally called, however, Madsen, who as a Laker won NBA championship rings his first two seasons in the league, realized he didn't want to leave a good situation. Specifically, he didn't want to leave his MVP teammate.

"I love playing with KG [Kevin Garnett]," Madsen said. "We've got a special group of guys."

Ostertag scratched

Greg Ostertag was having a typical game-day afternoon Monday, until he bent over.

"I was just picking something up, and boom," the Jazz center said. That "boom" was the sharp pain he felt in his back, spasms that kept him from playing for the first time all season.

Ostertag spent the game in the trainer's room getting treatment but still could barely move without pain afterwards. Don't expect him back in time for Wednesday's game with Atlanta.

Since he never made it out to the court, Ostertag was spared having to wear a sports coat while sitting behind the bench, as the NBA dress code dictates. Ostertag threatened before the season to wear "the worst coat they've ever seen, a coat from a homeless guy on the street" if he ever had to sit out a game.

Starting over

After 10 seasons of facing Flip Saunders four times a year, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan knew pretty much everything that was coming when the Timberwolves were in town.

"We had a little bit of an idea about all their sets and stuff," Sloan said. "We knew what to expect."

But that familiarity is gone with new Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, who Sloan said he knows mostly by reputation. Not that any team with Garnett on the roster is going to be much of a mystery.

"Obviously they're going to play to the strengths of their players. Garnett will get a lot of opportunities," Sloan said. "Basketball is basketball. There are some things that might be new each year, but we've seen most things that teams try. We'll go over scouting reports, but you can't prepare much. We played last night, so you just go out and play."

Briefly

Matt Harpring was in the Jazz's lineup, the first time in a month he has played on consecutive nights. . . . Jazz players and coaches will visit sick children today at Primary Children's Hospital.