Still at a stage in its infancy in which management can make such goodwill gestures without affecting the future, Charlotte has publicly promised point guard Brevin Knight that it won't trade him somewhere without Knight's consent, like the Bobcats did last season with Steve Smith before sending Smith to Miami.

However ...

With rookie Raymond Felton looking increasingly competent playing next to Knight, Charlotte might be unable to resist parting with the veteran before the Feb. 23 trading deadline, lest anything happens to start decreasing Knight's value after a solid season and a half with the expansionists.

At a salary of less than $4-plus million this season and the next two seasons, Knight holds appeal to teams looking for reasonably priced know-how at the point. With Charlotte's season in ruins anyway -- with Emeka Okafor expected to miss another five to seven weeks and the Bobcats carrying an injured list as long as anyone's -- dealing Knight during the next three weeks makes more sense as Felton progresses.