The Bobcats are expected to sign forward Linton Johnson to bring their roster up to the league maximum of 15 players.

Johnson was expected to take a physical Tuesday and join the team by their morning practice.

"My role on this team is to defend and rebound. With any type of sporting event, that?s how you win," Johnson said. "You?ve got to play defense, and you?ve got to be able to close it out. (Coach) told me that?s what my role is on this team, and I feel like I can contribute that."

The Charlotte Bobcats were hoping to have a fit and ready Sean May in 2008-2009 after the forward had knee surgery last season, but May came to training camp out of shape and had more fouls than rebounds during the exhibition season, the Associated Press is reporting.

"Right now I don't think he's ready to play at all," coach Larry Brown said Saturday. "I think he's trying, but I don't think he's in the kind of shape to be able to compete on this level and do all the things he's capable of doing."

The Bobcats have no depth at the power forward position, and were relying on May to play big minutes.

"I've got to get in better shape. I've got to get in better condition," May said. "I haven't played in so long that, boom, it's hit me smack dab in the face. I'm picking up some early fouls due to being out of position. My timing is a little off. Now, here in a week we're getting ready to play, so I've got to do a lot of work."

The Charlotte Bobcats have waived forward Justin Williams to leave the team with the regular-season limit of 15 players.

The Bobcats signed Williams to a non-guaranteed deal last week, following his release by Golden State.

The 6-foot-10 Williams played in three preseason games, averaging 0.7 points and 1.3 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant hyperextended his right knee in the second quarter of the Lakers? preseason game against the Bobcats Tuesday night, according to an Associated Press report.

Bryant did not come out with the team for the second half. The Lakers announced Bryant will be re-examined Wednesday.

Despite laying off 40 employees in the last month to save money, Charlotte Bobcats' owner Bob Johnson said that he has no interest in selling the franchise, the Associated Press is reporting.

"I'm not selling the team," Johnson said. "We have had calls from people wanting to know if they would want additional investors in the team. But there have been no discussions and I'm not interested in selling the team."

At the recommendation of a consulting firm, Johnson gutted the business and marketing departments, leaving just a skeleton crew and plenty of empty cubicles. But he insisted the basketball operations will not be affected by the cost-cutting.

Bobcats' forward Adam Morrison sat out Saturday's preseason game with tendinitis in his left knee.

The tendinitis has reportedly been building in the knee, which was surgically repaired after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last October.

Charlotte has decided to rest Morrison heading into the regular season.

Adam Morrison said he wasn't surprised the Bobcats exercised his option on Wednesday, and he won't be surprised if he or another wing player is traded.

?We have a lot of (shooting guards and small forwards) on this team. That's obvious even if you didn't know our team. Just look at the roster,? Morrison said.

?Aside from your contract, there's really not anything you can do about (potential trades). It's a clich? about every sports league, but it is a business. They've got to win and they've got to address the issues.?

GM Rod Higgins said the NBA's trade rules were not a primary concern in exercising the option.

?That wasn't our mindset in picking it up,? Higgins said. ?But if he becomes unrestricted (next summer), then you limit your options.?

The Bobcats have exercised the 2009-10 options on the contracts of Adam Morrison and Jared Dudley.

Morrison will make $4.4 million next season while Dudley will earn $1.1 million.

Atlanta forward Marvin Williams left the team's preseason win against Charlotte on Monday night with a sprained thumb.

Williams departed in the first quarter, long before the Hawks defeated the Bobcats, 88-87, because of Acie Law's driving layup with 4.6 seconds to play.

Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace found himself on the trading block after a rough season last year, but new Coach Larry Brown is very impressed with his game.

"My whole career, guys like him have been the backbone of every team I've coached," said Brown. "Athletic guys that can run the floor, that can defend, can rebound. Not necessarily shooters, but just basketball players."

Brown doesn't favor Wallace's gambling style on defense, which is one of the reasons he was believed to be on the block this summer.

"He's trying to break me out of the one-man defensive thing," Wallace said. "He wants all five guys to play defense. ... If you go for those steals and miss and the way you're going to leave your teammates hanging."