Bobcats guard Raja Bell has a partially torn ligament in his left wrist.
He suffered the injury on Sunday against the Jazz when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried to grab a loose ball.
The surgery would sideline him for up to four months.
"The way I understand it, surgery would be 6-8 [weeks] in a cast with pins and then 6-8 [weeks] worth of rehab," Bell told the Associated Press.
Bell may be able to play through the injury if he undergoes treatment, but he won't make a decision until he gets a second opinion.
"It's pretty disappointing to me," Bell said. "I was looking forward to coming in and having a good season and being as healthy as I could be to start the season. In that regard, it's a big setback for me personally."