Bobcats owner Michael Jordan doesn't plan to land a big-name free agent this coming summer.

Unlike the Knicks, Nets and Bulls, the Bobcats don't have the salary cap space to court free agents like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Jordan, who has moved from a minority owner to majority owner, is preaching patience with his roster.

James Jones believes Michael Jordan could play an important role in the NBA's labor talks.

``Mike has a unique perspective,'' Jones said Saturday. ``When you can mesh a person like Mike -- who played and is now an owner -- he has a perspective I don't think anyone in that [negotiating] room is going to have."

Jordan's voice was instrumental for the players in the NBA lockout that cut the 1998-99 season to 50 games.

Michael Jordan did not use his considerable star power in North Carolina to help draw fans to the arena in his previous role with the Bobcats.

Jordan said that would change now that he is the majority owner.

?Now that I have invested in this process, I assume his responsibility in terms of putting my face on this organization and obviously trying to move to the next level,? said Jordan, who will buy a home here but remain a resident of Chicago.

?I understand the expectations of the city,? he said. ?I understand what they endured obviously when the team left.

?They want to win again. They want to feel good about their basketball team. I?m on board with that. I?m trying to get that feeling back here again.?

Jordan added: ?I want this place to be like when we used to come to play, it was the loudest thing. You?d hear that buzzing and all that crazy stuff. I want that same feeling to come back here. And it?s going to take some time. Obviously, it starts on the basketball court. And at the same time, building that relationship back with the community. That?s what I want to do.?

Jordan said he would turn to Commissioner David Stern as well as Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago Bulls? owner, and others for advice in rebuilding the franchise.

?He considers himself a North Carolina native, and he?s quite anxious to make this team into an important part of the community,? Stern told The Associated Press recently. ?I think he has the capacity and the will to do that. I think he?s the right majority owner at the right time.?

The Pacers and Bobcats had talks about point guard T.J. Ford prior to February's trade deadline, but nothing ended up happening.

According to the Charlotte Observer, that doesn't mean Ford isn't in the Bobcats' future.

The Bobcats saw Ford as a safety net should Raymond Felton leave via unrestricted free agency this summer.

If talks with Felton get rough, perhaps Charlotte could re-engage talks with Indiana regarding Ford.

The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the acquisition by Michael Jordan of a controlling interest in the Charlotte Bobcats.

"We are pleased that Michael Jordan's purchase of majority ownership of the Bobcats was approved by the NBA's Board of Governors and closed in such a smooth and expeditious fashion,? said NBA Commissioner David Stern. ?We look forward to the continued growth of the Bobcats, on and off the court, under his leadership."

Theo Ratliff, a 14-year NBA veteran, isn't quite ready to declare his career over.

"I've been year-to-year for the last three or four years. It's always possible (that I'll be back)," Ratliff said. "But right now I feel real good physically. There's no reason why I can't keep playing at this level."

Ratliff has played for nine teams and the Bobcats acquired him from the Spurs on Feb. 18.

He was hardly playing for San Antonio, but Ratliff has been a starter in Charlotte.

"Theo always has done what he does best -- defend, rebound, be incredibly unselfish," coach Larry Brown said. "He's doing things now that we really need. Thank God (San Antonio GM and coach) Gregg Popovich is a good friend of mine. We needed him (Ratliff)."

The Bobcats have signed veteran guard Larry Hughes to add depth for the stretch run.

Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins announced this month that the team wouldn't sign Hughes because of his broken finger, but the injury has healed sooner than expected.

He could be ready to play in roughly a week.

Larry Hughes will likely sign with the Bobcats sometime in in the next day or two, according to a source close to him that spoke with Slam.

The Bobcats were previously mentioned as a destination for Hughes, but were not interested at the time.

The NBA has approved Michael Jordan's bid to buy the Bobcats and commissioner David Stern expects the league's board of governors to do the same by the end of next week.

Stern said he expects the vote to pass "very easily," according to the Associated Press.

Jordan will become the second black majority owner in NBA history and the first ex-player to own a franchise.

"I think it's fair to say he can afford it," Stern said.

Allen Iverson's former coach, Larry Brown, expects him to play in the NBA again.

"He needs basketball and I think our league needs to take care of guys who have made a contribution," Brown said of Iverson. "Maybe he'll never play again at the level I saw him play at, but I think he can still help somebody."