John Delong of the Winston Salem-Journal reports: Co-owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge issued another statement over the weekend saying that they are not in negotiations with anyone to sell the team and that they have no desire to sell the team.

It's more of the cat-and-mouse game surrounding the team's potential move after published reports recently suggested that Shinn and Wooldridge ultimately would consider selling the team.

Wooldridge hopes to have the franchise's future decided by Jan. 1, but that seems more unlikely each day. Wooldridge has talked to officials in Norfolk, Anaheim, Louisville, St. Louis and New Orleans in recent weeks.

There are signs that the NBA prefers for the Hornets to remain in Charlotte, however, and recently billionaire Bruton Smith guaranteed that a local group would be willing to buy the team should Wooldridge and Shinn decide to sell.

RealGm note: The Hornets will likely stay put because of the NBA's 100 million dollar relocation fee.