Casey returns to city he loves

If home is where the heart is, then Dwane Casey, a Kentucky native and new coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will always belong to Seattle.

Eleven years will do that.

It's just enough time to salvage a battered reputation, build lifelong relationships and fall in love with a city. A city that never had a chance to truly reciprocate his feelings because he was always the dutiful lieutenant standing in the shadows of a trio of Sonics coaches.

There was a time when Casey believed this day might never happen. That he might never live down the scandal at Kentucky, when he was accused of trying to send money to a recruit. That he might never have a chance to coach an NBA team, as he will tonight when he directs the Timberwolves against the Sonics at KeyArena.

"You just don't know how things are going to turn out," Casey said Thursday night after stepping out of an elevator at a downtown hotel. "I never knew I'd be here for (11) years. Never thought that.

"Never thought I'd feel the way I do about Seattle. I love it here. Absolutely love it. I have a female friend here. I'll retire here one of these days, and I hope to raise a family here. I've got real strong feelings for this place."

Had the timing been a little different, Casey and not Bob Weiss would likely have been the Sonics' choice to replace Nate McMillan, who left for Portland. Casey nearly got the job in 2000 after Paul Westphal was released but insisted the team hire McMillan.

"It's one of my favorite stories," president Wally Walker said. "Nate recommended Dwane, and Dwane recommended Nate. Dwane made it easier for me. He said: 'This job should be Nate's, and I'll help him in whatever way I can.' "

Walker declined to comment on whether he would have hired Casey last summer "out of respect to all parties," but Weiss admitted Casey was in line to succeed McMillan.

"If not this job, we figured he would get it [head-coaching job] sooner or later," Weiss said. "He had the credentials. He had the background. He had the work ethic. You just knew that eventually he would get a job.

"He's a basketball junkie. He's got a mind like a sponge. He's a student of the game. Hard worker. He follows everything in the league."

The Timberwolves called Casey before McMillan left. After being passed over for previous openings in Toronto and Atlanta, Casey jumped at the chance.

"Sometimes what you don't get is a blessing," he said. "I had other opportunities, some where they were rebuilding, but here I have a chance to coach a wonderful MVP-type player in Kevin Garnett and a team that is very talented.

"For a first-time coach, you couldn't ask for a better assignment. So no, I don't look back like that and think what if this had happened or that might happen. I'm very happy where I'm at right now."

Casey will try to forget his feelings for Sonics Luke Ridnour, Damien Wilkins and Rashard Lewis for a few hours tonight.

"Great guys and I love each one of them," Casey said.

On Tuesday, Minnesota faced Portland, and before walking away with a 90-86 victory, Casey admitted feeling a bit awkward about reuniting with McMillan.

"As much as I love Seattle, I'm trying to keep this a business trip and we want to win a basketball game," he said. "The other stuff, I'll save that for the offseason."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com