"Looking to address the Charlotte Bobcats' need for a backup power forward, general manager Rod Higgins has contacted agents for Antonio McDyess and Brandon Bass.

McDyess, who played for the Detroit Pistons, and Bass, a Dallas Maverick, are both unrestricted free agents. Higgins said both discussions were preliminary, but he made it clear either one could fill a hole on the depth chart.

"You look at our roster, and he makes a lot of sense," Higgins said of 6-foot-8 Bass, who played a total of four NBA seasons with the Hornets and Mavericks. "But he's going to have options, too.''

It's unclear how the Pistons' and Mavericks' situations might affect McDyess and Bass.

The Pistons reportedly have agreements to sign Chicago's Ben Gordon and Milwaukee's Charlie Villanueva once the new salary cap is announced next week. That will eat up much of the Pistons' cap room and Villanueva plays the same position as McDyess."