Sebastian Telfair will start the season on the sidelines due to a suspension that will be announced sometime before his Timberwolves open the season Oct. 29 against Sacramento.
Telfair was sentenced last month to three years’ probation for misdemeanor possession of a loaded .45-caliber handgun, speeding and driving without a license in Westchester in April 2007. He was a member of the Celtics at the time of his arrest. Since his case has been resolved, his suspension by the NBA is automatic. The league needs only to determine how many games he’ll serve, with sources indicating it will be for a minimum of two.
Telfair re-signed last summer with Minnesota for three years, $7.5 million. He’s projected to come off the bench, with Randy Foye penciled in as the starter. This will be his first suspension, although he’s had two other notable brushes with the law since making the jump to the pros from Lincoln High School.