The Charlotte Bobcats, in need of a fill-in point guard, have been in discussions with the New Jersey Nets, possibly about acquiring Jeff McInnis, the Charlotte Observer is reporting.

Coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff confirmed on Friday morning that the two teams have talked. Bickerstaff drafted McInnis, a former North Carolina point guard, when Bickerstaff was with the Denver Nuggets. Bickerstaff later brought McInnis to Washington when he was coaching the Wizards.

McInnis hasn't played since January. The Nets told him he wasn't welcome to attend training camp, and the team has made efforts to buy out his contract.

The Nets' logical target in this deal would be power forward Melvin Ely. New Jersey needs a low-post scorer, after center Nenad Krstic was lost for the season with a severe knee injury.

McInnis makes $3.6 million this season and Ely about $3.3 million. The Bobcats can absorb the difference because they're below the salary cap. But logically the Bobcats would ask for other compensation from New Jersey: Either a draft pick or cash (the league allows a maximum of $3 million per transaction).

The Bobcats need help at the point, after Brevin Knight was diagnosed with a torn abdominal muscle. Knight had surgery Friday and is expected to miss four to six weeks. In Knight's absence, the Bobcats use Derek Anderson.

Kobe Bryant walked slowly into the locker room, sighed and stopped instead of continuing to his locker to meet reporters.

"I don't want to have to walk all the way over there," Bryant said.

Bryant was exhausted. His 58 points in 55 minutes were offset by two key errors in the third overtime, and the Charlotte Bobcats outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 133-124 on Friday night.

"I don't want to have to do that," Bryant said of his big scoring night. "It's too tiring."

Bryant spoiled the third-highest point total of his career by committing a foul on Derek Anderson's 3-point attempt with 1:14 left. Anderson hit all three free throws to give Charlotte a 129-124 lead.

Michael and Juanita Jordan have filed for divorce.

"Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17 year marriage," the couple said in a statement issued through their lawyers. "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements."

During her last divorce petition, Jordan said attempts to reconcile their marriage had failed and future ones "would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family."

Like many other teams, the Nuggets will make several calls to Atlanta and Charlotte regarding trades between now and the deadline.  

Both teams are under the salary cap and the Nuggets would like to dump some salary, as they are $3 million over the luxury tax threshold.

Brevin Knight will have abdominal surgery on Thursday, which will sideline him for at least a month.

A specialist in Philadelphia discovered the severity of the injury during an exam Thursday.

The Bobcats will consider signing an additional point guard.

Former Charlotte Bobcats guard/forward Alan Anderson has been acquired by the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. The team also waived forward Chris Ellis due to injury.

At 6-6 and 220-pounds, Anderson played in 42 games for Charlotte over the last two seasons after signing with the Bobcats as an undrafted free agent on August 9, 2005. In six games with Charlotte this season he averaged 10.2 minutes, 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds before being waived on Nov. 27. Anderson's career NBA per game averages include 14.9 minutes, 5.2 points and 1.3 rebounds. In 126 career games at Michigan State he averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

The Charlotte Observer reported Sunday that a minority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats wants to donate his share of the basketball team to a charity but is being blocked by team managing partner Bob Johnson.

Felix Sabates wants to give his Bobcats stock, which he values at about $1.34 million, to the foundation that supports Carolinas HealthCare System. The Cuban-born Sabates, also a prominent NASCAR team owner, is a member of the system's board.

"I was surprised Bob wouldn't approve this, considering it's a donation," Sabates told the newspaper in an interview Friday.

Michael Jordan, Managing Member of Basketball Operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, was in attendance during Wednesday?s game against the New York Knicks.

Following a timeout in the second quarter, the video screen showed Jordan and the Madison Square Garden crowd welcomed him with a roaring standing ovation until he stood to acknowledge the warm reception.

?He?ll come by and say hi every once in a while,? said Adam Morrison in a pre-game interview.  "Give us a few pointers.?

Jordan had an amazing collection of great games at MSG, including the 'double-nickel' game shortly after he came out of retirement for the first time in 1995.

Charlotte Bobcats guard Brevin Knight will miss his second straight game with a groin strain, according to coach Bernie Bickerstaff.

Bickerstaff said Knight is a scratch for tomorrow night's matchup with the New York Knicks. The Bobcats will also be without power forward Sean May (sprained ankle).

Bickerstaff plans to again start Derek Anderson in Knight's place, in order to continue using rookie Adam Morrison off the bench.

Sean May was on two crutches on Sunday and one on Monday and his sprained ankle will cost him seven to ten days.

"It's frustrating," said May. "But at the same time, this is just part of the game."