Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports: Larry Bird has competition in pursuit of an NBA expansion franchise in Charlotte.

Bob Sturges, a minority partner in the Miami Heat, says he has contacted the league about owning a team in Charlotte. Sturges assembled a group earlier this year that attempted to buy the Orlando Magic when that team was briefly on the market.

Another group, led by basketball Hall of Famer Bird, has expressed interest in a team to replace the Hornets, who are moving to New Orleans after 14 seasons in Charlotte. The NBA expects to take up the expansion issue this summer after the playoffs are completed.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said repeatedly last week that he expected more than one group to pursue bringing another team to Charlotte. M.L. Carr, part of Bird's group, said he was "not surprised, nor concerned," by the prospect of competition for a team.

NBA officials could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

Sturges, who said he's in his 50s, has owned a small piece of the Heat since its inception in 1988.

It's also possible that Washington-based billionaire Robert Johnson will be involved if the NBA grants Charlotte another team. Johnson offered to buy the Hornets from owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge before the team got permission to move.

Nelson Schwab, the Charlotte businessman who led the effort to keep the Hornets, said it was his impression Johnson would still like to own an NBA team here.

Johnson could not be reached for comment.