The Timberwolves have lost starting center Al Jefferson indefinately due to a case of Achilles tendinitis. This is a huge blow to the T-Wolves as Jefferson is the one player on the roster that they can’t replace. If the T-Wolves are without both Jefferson and Kevin Love (out 6-8 weeks with a broken hand) they will be for sure one of the 2 or 3 worst teams in the NBA.

21-year old starting power forward Kevin Love will miss the next 6-8 weeks due to a broken bone in his left hand. This is a big blow to the T-Wolves who were depending on him teaming with Al Jefferson to give the team a big edge in the paint. Love played in 81 games for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 11.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. 25-year old Ryan Hollins or 23-year old Oleksiy Pecherov will likely replace Love while he is out. Hollins played in 45 games for the Mavericks and Bobcats in which he averaged 9.9 minutes, 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Hollins will also back up center Al Jefferson when Love returns to action. Pecherov played in 32 games for the Wizards last season and he averaged 8.7 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. He is on the soft side but he is a good shooter for his size. 32-year old Brian Cardinal will also get some P.T. here. He played in 64 games for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 14.2 minutes, 3.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2009-2010 SEASON: WITH LOVE: B WITHOUT LOVE: F

Kevin Garnett will miss the remainder of the season with a quad injury.

Rashard McCants has returned to practice after missing the whole season until now with microfracture surgery on his knee.

Back-up shooting guard Rashard McCants is out until at least January while he recovers from microfracture surgery to his knee.