I asked Sam Mitchell before tonight's game if he'll still be able to bring veteran Kevin Martin back into the rotation without losing him if Mitchell so chooses, even after Martin has sat out the last six games so Mitchell and GM Milt Newton could evaluate Zach LaVine at shooting guard and Tyus Jones at backup point guard.
"Yeah, absolutely," Mitchell said. "We may even roll him out tonight."
Mitchell said he played LaVine and Jones in those spots partly so Martin could have more time to let his hurting shooting wrist healed.
Martin looked awfully relaxed before Monday's game and not like a guy expecting to play. I asked about his wrist and he continues to call it his "problem child."
"If K-Mart tells me his wrist is feeling better, then we'll play him," Mitchell said.
The 76ers, meanwhile, are adjusting their starters to match the Wolves' big lineup: Coach Brett Brown will start Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel together to match Kevin Garnett and Karl-Anthony Towns rather than play Noel and JaKarr Sampson while bringing Okafor off the bench. He'll also put big guard Nik Stauskas in for Isaiah Canaan to give the Sixers Stauskas to defend Tayshaun Prince while Jerami Grant guards Andrew WIggins.
