"Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said Wednesday he doesn't anticipate using center Tyson Chandler or power forward Boris Diaw in any of the first four preseason exhibitions.

Chandler is coming back from off-season ankle and toe surgery, performed before the trade to the Bobcats. Diaw sprained an ankle while playing for the French national team earlier this month.

Neither injury is considered serious. In fact, Chandler says he feels better than he anticipated, after participating in a few drills in the first two days of training camp. But Brown will take the conservative approach with two projected starters.

"They won't probably be playing until we go to L.A. (in mid-October) - that's the target date. And if they didn't (play) in L.A., we still have three games" before the season-opener in Boston Oct. 28.

The trip to Los Angeles is for the Lakers' preseason tournament. The Bobcats play the Lakers Oct. 17, then either the Clippers or Utah Jazz Oct. 18.

"I want us to be cautious" with the injuries, Brown said, "but you also don't want them to be way behind."

Diaw sat out the first three practices. Chandler hasn't yet been cleared for full-speed, 5-on-5 drills."