G Mike Miller is the veteran three-point shooter whose inclusion in the draft-night trade with Memphis made the transformative eight-player deal happen. He has spent the preseason deferring to his teammates; he has led the Wolves in assists so far.

F Al Jefferson is the franchise, a fellow who averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds a year ago and around whom the team has predicated all its off-season moves. He has spent the preseason schedule regaining his conditioning after missing two weeks just before training camp because of a sprained knee ligament.

F Corey Brewer spent all summer in the gym working on his dribbling and a jumpshot that abandoned him in his rookie season. He's a versatile, agile defender already, so if his offensive game comes around (and there have been signs of that in the preseason) Randy Wittman might not be able to keep him off the court.

C Kevin Love played mainly in a reserve's role during preseason and could start the season there, but he's too talented with his passing and instincts to stay there long. He will get outreached and out-jumped under the basket at times but if preseason play is an accurate indication, he will compete because of his sheer relentlessness.

ANALYZING RESERVES:

G Rashad McCants last season begrudgingly accepted a sixth man's role, which is where he likely will stay now that Mike Miller is a Timberwolf. McCants provides instant offense, but Wittman is looking for the same kind of attention at the other end of the floor.

G Sebastian Telfair transformed himself last season from a shoot-first point guard into a guy who has learned how to run a team. He's also the only Wolves player with the potential to turn into a defender who can guard the ball all 94 feet.

F Craig Smith is the Rhino, an appropriate nickname for a 6-8 forward whom teammate Kevin Love suggested looks like he should be playing in the NFL instead. A bull of a scorer in the low post, his game thus far in a three-year career is limited to within mere feet of the basket.

F Ryan Gomes is perhaps the symbol of why the Wolves will be better this year. A starter for much of last season, he might be the eighth or ninth guy off the bench this season, a sign the team is much deeper than a season ago.

F Rodney Carney was a throw-in in a July trade with Philadelphia that gave the Sixers the salary-cap relief needed to sign Elton Brand and provided the Wolves with a future first-round pick. He's "freakishly" athletic, according to Randy Wittman, but hasn't shown a consistent offensive game other than running and dunking. Wittman has paired him with Brewer at times during the preseason to form a long, formidable defensive combination.

MEDICAL WATCH:

C Jason Collins is out until early November while he recovers from September surgery to repair an elbow tendon ruptured in a golf-cart accident.

C David Harrison (strained calf), F Brian Cardinal (calf) and C Calvin Booth (back spasms) have not played at all in the preseason. Booth has began practicing fully with the team, although he remains a contract buyout possibility as the regular season approaches because of his age (32) and contract (one season at $1.14 million remaining).