"We made some inquiries if it was real," coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff told the Observer on Saturday. "Michael (Jordan) and I plan to sit down and chat" about whether to make an offer.

Why the Bobcats? Ten million. That's why. The Bobcats are $10 million under the salary cap, more than any other team in the league. What kind of package would it take to land Iverson?

Jordan May Have Bobcats Pursue Iverson

Bobcats inquire about Iverson trade prospects
Philadelphia shopping superstar; what price will guard command?
RICK BONNELL
rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com

The Charlotte Bobcats have inquired about Allen Iverson's availability, and they might make an offer for the superstar guard now that the Philadelphia 76ers say they'll trade him.

"We made some inquiries if it was real," coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff told the Observer on Saturday. "Michael (Jordan) and I plan to sit down and chat" about whether to make an offer.

Jordan, the former NBA superstar, is part-owner of the Bobcats and oversees basketball operations. Bickerstaff said Jordan plans to be in Charlotte today for the team's home game against the Phoenix Suns.

The relationship between Iverson and the Sixers has tattered, apparently beyond repair. Ed Snider, chairman of the media company that owns the Sixers, told Philadelphia reporters Friday that they plan to trade Iverson, at his request.

Snider said Iverson has probably played his last game with the Sixers, adding that about half of the NBA's 30 teams have inquired about the player's availability.

It's obvious why the Bobcats would find Iverson interesting: The 6-foot guard's 31.2-point scoring average is second to the 31.7 points Denver's Carmelo Anthony scores this season.

The Bobcats are coming off their worst scoring and shooting game ever, a 92-62 loss to the Houston Rockets in which Charlotte shot 28 percent. Bickerstaff says the team's greatest need is a go-to scorer, to raise the game of various complementary players.

Despite his lack of size, Iverson annually is among the league's elite scorers. However, he's always been a high-maintenance player, clashing with coaches and demonstrating an occasional reluctance to practice.

The Bobcats have placed heavy importance on character in player-personnel decisions.

Iverson not practicing Thursday was apparently the deciding factor in him not playing during Friday's 15-point loss to the Washington Wizards.

"If Allen feels that he doesn't want to practice and then he wants to play, it just doesn't work any longer," Snider said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet.

"I think it's time for him to move on and for us to move on and find out where everything stands. I really didn't see it coming, because Allen says all the right things, and I thought he really was behind (coach) Mo (Cheeks) and what we were trying to accomplish, but obviously he's not."

The Bobcats have numerous young players and potentially high draft picks to assemble an offer if they choose. They would also have to absorb Iverson's remaining salary -- a salary-cap figure of about $17 million this season, $19 million next season and $20 million the following season.

That would be challenging for any team, but the Bobcats have about $10 million in room under the salary cap -- more than any other team.

"We have not (made an offer) but we're going to sit down and talk about the logic" of whether to do so, Bickerstaff said. "The other question is what do they want" to make a deal.