Bobcats take act to Vegas

In the meantime, there are some questions to be answered

As Charlotte Bobcats summer-league practice opens today in Las Vegas, with a mix of veterans, rookies and free agents, Charlotte Observer NBA writer Rick Bonnell examines five things a Bobcats fan would love to see settled this offseason:

1. WILL ADAM MORRISON BE READY?

Nine months after season-ending surgery on his left knee, Morrison will practice -- but not play -- in Las Vegas.

The damage was extensive -- the first serious injury of Morrison's career -- and the stakes are high. Morrison was the third overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Morrison will be challenged on a roster full of wing players, with new coach Larry Brown setting a high standard for defense (not Morrison's strength).

2. WILL SEAN MAY BE READY?

He was just recently cleared for basketball activity, after micro-fracture surgery on his right knee in October. Micro-fracture isn't the most reliable of procedures; tiny holes are drilled to create scar tissue where cartilage once acted as a shock absorber. Results and recovery time vary widely.

The Bobcats once thought enough of May to select him with the 13th pick, rather than trade picks Nos. 5 and 13 for the chance to draft Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

If healthy, May provides skills (rebounding, low-post scoring) this team desperately needs. To quote outgoing coach Sam Vincent, this team had no healthy power forward last season once Emeka Okafor became the day-to-day center.

May is in Las Vegas and planning to run some drills, but training camp will determine how ready he is.

3. WILL EMEKA OKAFOR STAY LONG-TERM?

Last summer, he turned down a contract that would have paid him more than $12 million per season, plus incentives that could have added another $5 million over the life of the contract.

It wouldn't be shocking if Okafor signs a one-year qualifying offer (for roughly $7 million) that would make him an unrestricted free agent a year from now. If he was willing to take the risk to become a restricted free agent, then why wouldn't he take the next step by playing out his rookie obligation this season?

The lingering question: Would another team have the salary-cap room and the desire to pay him more than the Bobcats have already offered?

4. WHAT BECOMES OF RAYMOND FELTON?

The knock is that he's not a "pure" point guard, who thinks pass-first, but more of an undersized combo guard.

However, he's on his third coach in three seasons, and the last one -- Vincent -- repeatedly changed his mind about how best to use Felton. Perhaps all the guy really needs is to be left at the point to develop his craft. He's working for two pretty good former point guards -- Larry Brown and Phil Ford.

Scheduled to make about $4.1 million this season, Felton says he wants to remain in Charlotte.

5. WILL THE ROOKIES BE READY?

Point guard D.J. Augustin (the ninth overall pick) is expected to be in the rotation (although general manager Rod Higgins asserts Felton is the starter).

Twentieth pick Alexis Ajinca, who averaged five points in limited minutes as a French pro, is more of a project. The Bobcats will use these summer-league games to assess how much or how little Ajinca will be ready for come October and beyond.