The first major test

The Charlotte Hornets open training camp today for their 10th anniversary season, with questions about veteran point guard Muggsy Bogues following them into the first of two daily workouts at their Fort Mill training facility.

Bogues, troubled during parts of last season with recurring problems in his left knee and retirement talk during the summer, has missed two magnetic resonance imaging exams scheduled as part of his pre-camp physical.

Hornets executive vice president Bob Bass said Bogues missed the MRI scheduled Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., then missed it again when it was rescheduled at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The situation could be cleared up today. Bogues said he had rescheduled an MRI at 8:30 a.m., one hour before the start of the Hornets' first practice, but said he would talk to agent David Falk before getting the exam.

``Everybody doesn't take an MRI but guys with existing conditions do,'' Bass said during a media day/photo session Thursday. ``He took his physical and only completed part of it. . .

``I'm not going to speculate on what might or might not happen. . . . It's out of my control. . . . He has to complete that physical (and) he has to complete an MRI to complete a physical.''

Bogues said he felt good and had played basketball during the summer with no pain in the knee, which has little cartilage remaining. He has had two MRIs done since the end of the season, one by the Hornets' physicians at the Miller Clinic and another scheduled by Bogues and Falk with Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala.

The new MRI requested this week is apparently to be done to show a time line on any subsequent damage done to the knee.

``I'm not opposed to taking one,'' Bogues said. ``My knee hasn't changed from last year to this year. I played then so why not let me play now?''

Will he be at practice today?

``I'm just looking forward to coming (today).''

Does he expect to be playing today?

``Well, that depends on what the criteria is.''

Bogues played in 65 of the Hornets' 82 regular-season games in 1996-97, with most of his absences coming in the first half of the season when he was repeatedly bothered by pain and stiffness in his leg. He appeared to get stronger as the season went on and played more minutes but did not practice regularly.

If he takes the MRI today he will be with 15 other players in what promises to be the Hornets' most competitive training camp ever. Among the additions to a team that won a franchise-high 54 games last season are point guard David Wesley, wing guard Bobby Phills and center/forward J.R. Reid.

``I like the team that's out here now better than the team that was out here last year,'' coach Dave Cowens said. ``The talent level is better. . . . But I'm not one to say what we'll do as far as wins are concerned. You can't predict.''

Working the new players into their roles and getting them accustomed to the tendencies of the veteran Hornets will be one of the priorities of camp. Two newcomers, Wesley and Phills, are projected as starters along with frontcourt holdovers Vlade Divac, Anthony Mason and Glen Rice.

Wesley and Phills signed seven-year contracts. The Hornets will have depth at the point regardless of how Bogues' role plays out with Tony Delk and Corey Beck also on the roster at that position, though no one has the experience or history with the franchise that Bogues has.

``I'm quite sure they've got their starter,'' Bogues said. ``They brought in Wesley and gave him seven years, so that's their decision.''

The Hornets will open camp with 16 players on the roster, 10 under guaranteed contracts. They must cut the roster to 12 two days before the Oct. 31 start of the season.

The two-a-day practice schedule that begins today will be followed through Monday. The Hornets will practice once Tuesday in Fort Mill, then travel to San Jose and practice daily there in preparation for next Friday's exhibition opener against Golden State.

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