If May stays healthy -- and that's no given following micro-fracture surgery to treat a chronic bone bruise -- he could have a prime opportunity to start at power forward. New coach Larry Brown needs a complement to Emeka Okafor, who is more comfortable playing center, particularly on defense. Nazr Mohammed didn't pair well with Okafor last season, and Jermareo Davidson is too inexperienced.

That leaves May, whose skills as a rebounder and versatile post scorer would help greatly -- if he can stay healthy. But May has played just 58 of a possible 246 NBA games, primarily due to chronic soreness in his right knee. May will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and realizes he's running out of chances in Charlotte.

"I know a lot of people have been frustrated. I've been frustrated. But my whole goal is to prove myself," May recently told the Charlotte Observer.

Brown indicated during summer league in Las Vegas that May would get that chance if healthy. It's been a long time since May last played in a game that mattered, but he was once the Most Valuable Player in the Final Four. He's lost weight, and now weighs 265 pounds, which makes him trim if not slim, a necessary step to reducing the stress on his knee.

Morrison's status is more complicated because the Bobcats are loaded with wing players. Despite being the third overall pick in 2006, he's clearly behind Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll in the Bobcats' pecking order, and competing with Jared Dudley for the minutes that are left.

Morrison is still re-establishing his confidence in his left knee, following surgery to repair his damaged anterior cruciate ligament. Also, Brown's high expectations on defense will test a player who's never been known for is success on that side of the court.

Still, the Bobcats have made a big enough investment in Morrison to keep working at making him a success.