Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson, in a worst-case scenario, could require additional surgery on his sore right ankle, threatening his availability for the rest of this season the way the initial injury and surgery wiped out the end of 2003-04.

"That's one of the options," Hudson said after the Wolves' practice Thursday. "That's why I'm getting more opinions, to see if I can break [the scar tissue] up without getting it scoped or cut on."

Hudson will travel to Charlotte for an appointment Tuesday with Dr. Bob Anderson, his original surgeon. An MRI done in the Twin Cities this week revealed the scar tissue, which Hudson blames for his ankle's "stiffness, soreness and lack of motion."

The team's medical and training staff still is hopeful that treatment can provide the relief the 29-year-old Hudson needs in order to play. The 6-1 combo guard has missed the past three games and played only 20 minutes in the four games before that.

"Surgery is possibly not an option, also," said Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale.