Jefferson Expects To Play In Opener

La Velle E. Neal III (Star Tribune) reports Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward/center Al Jefferson expects to play in the season opener, despite questions about his heel and surgically repaired knee.

Jefferson did not play in the final games of the preseason, but was able to participate in scrimmage on Monday with no problems.

Coach Kurt Rambis will get the final say on whether not not Jefferson will play.  “Assuming everything continues to go well, he will play on Wednesday,” Rambis said.  “But we will have to monitor his time.”

Neal also said that team president David Kahn is expected to wait until near Saturday’s deadline to determine whether they will pick up the options of forward Kevin Love, guard/forward Corey Brewer and center Oleksiy Pecherov.  Love and Brewer are expected to get contracts, but the decision on Pecherov in uncertain with his $2.4 million option.

Update:  The Associated Press reports Jefferson will play, but guards Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington are questionable.  The rookie guards are both battling illness and both missed their second practice in a row Tuesday.

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