Jefferson goes down, but it's only a sprain

The Wolves forward is expected to be sidelined for the first week of training camp.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: September 18, 2008 - 11:19 PM

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Timberwolves star Al Jefferson is expected to miss at least the first week of training camp because of a mildly sprained knee ligament.

Jefferson sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee when he collided with a teammate during a workout at the team's Target Center training facility on Tuesday. A medical imaging test on Wednesday confirmed the mild sprain, which is expected to sideline him two to three weeks.

Training camp begins Sept. 30 in Mankato, Minn.

"It's always a concern when your best player goes down clutching his knee like he did," Wolves assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg said in a moment of understatement. "It was a relief when we found out it was a mild sprain."

Veteran center Jason Collins is expected to miss all of the preseason because of an arm injury sustained in a golf cart accident. Jefferson was injured on the second day he trained with rookie Kevin Love, with whom he will be paired in the team's frontcourt.

"We'll be able to jell quickly," Love said. "I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for him. We'll need him."

• Jefferson, Randy Foye, Mike Miller and the team's personnel staff, including coach Randy Wittman, traveled to Chicago last week to work out free agent Shaun Livingston, the former Los Angeles Clippers guard, who is attempting a comeback after missing all last season because of a major knee injury.

Livingston tore three of his four knee ligaments in February 2007. A 6-7 point guard drafted directly from high school, Livingston never has played more than 61 games in his three NBA seasons because of injuries. The Wolves appear interested in signing him to become a third option behind Foye and Sebastian Telfair. He also can play some shooting guard and small forward, but might not be healthy enough to play until mid-season.

NBA Developmental League guard Blake Ahearn, who played on the Wolves' Las Vegas summer-league team, is expected to be added to the training-camp roster.

• The Wolves kicked off festivities for their 20th anniversary season with a Wednesday event at Target Center for 20-year season-ticket holders and media members that featured a ceremonial jump-ball tap featuring former Wolf Randy Breuer and Love. Breuer, the center on the inaugural Wolves team, won the tap.

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