"This should put a smile on Gerald Wallace's face: Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas doesn't see Wallace as the primary solution to replacing Tyrus Thomas at power forward.

Wallace's reaction, when told Thomas would miss up to eight weeks with a torn meniscus, was surprise and discomfort. The last time Wallace played heavy minutes at power forward - the Bobcats' second season - the task beat him up.

"If he wants me to go some (at 4), fine,'' Wallace told the Observer Thursday night. "But as far as labeling me a 4, I'm done with those days.''

Thomas had surgery on his left knee Friday morning. It was termed successful by the team. He'll recover throughout the weekend and is scheduled to begin rehabilitation Monday.

But based on an eight-week prognosis, Thomas wouldn't be available to play before late March. In the meantime, the Bobcats take three Western Conference trips and have home games against Miami, Dallas, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers."