Of course, that’s on paper. In reality players don’t react well to split time. Team dynamics usually dictate someone should be the clear starter. Both players have played okay but not great, so if they want to avoid splitting time there really is only one answer: Play better and take the position. The coaches are giving you a chance, so if you don’t want to share, take it.
# Jefferson, still working to get in shape after knee surgery last season, appears to be ready for extended minutes. Jefferson played 26 minutes Wednesday night, his longest outing of the exhibition season, including stretches in the third and fourth quarter. He played only the first half against Milwaukee and Toronto.
# Rambis might consider roster cuts after Saturday night’s game in Milwaukee. He talked about potential roster moves after the current three-game stretch, which started with Wednesday’s game.
Madsen, 33, quietly accepted a buyout of the final season of his $2.84 million contract from the Los Angeles Clippers. He has a nice offer to play in Greece this season and will decide soon.
At the moment, other than Reiner, the Timberwolves have 7-footer Ryan Hollins (who checks in at 230 pounds) as a true center. Jefferson can play the role. So too can forward Oleksiy Pecherov, also a 7-foot newcomer.
And as each day dawns, so does another look at the waiver wire, though Rambis earlier this week said he had not had any conversations with management on any moves.