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I spent much of this afternoon with Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins, for a story in Sunday's Observer on the team's draft preparations. I asked Higgins if he had any concerns about Gerald Henderson recovering from recent hip surgery. Higgins said he spoke with Henderson by phone Wednesday. That conversation, plus the medical reports he got, leave Higgins' confident Henderson will be ready for the start of training camp. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Gerald Henderson 

Charlotte Bobcats head athletic trainer Steve Stricker was in Colorado on Tuesday for shooting guard Gerald Henderson's hip surgery. Stricker's assessment, via Bobcats media relations: "There were no surprises - it's exactly what they thought they'd see. Henderson has the same prognosis. They're confident this will definitely alleviate his knee pain." Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Gerald Henderson 

Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson is expected to miss four to six months while recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Gerald Henderson 

Surgery was scheduled today in Vail, Col., after a specialist at the Steadman Clinic there discovered the problem. Henderson sought treatment for ongoing pain in his left knee. Doctors concluded his hip issue was affecting his knee. "Gerald had some knee tendinitis issues this season, and the doctors have told us that fixing this congenital defect in his hip should alleviate those problems," general manager Rod Higgins said in a prepared statement. "The doctors also feel that addressing the hip issue now will help prevent the possibility of further damage in the future." Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Gerald Henderson 

NBA disciplinary officials have suspended Orlando Magic reserve small forward Quentin Richardson for two games without pay for shoving Gerald Henderson in the face during the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's overtime win over the Toronto Raptors. Richardson will miss Sunday afternoon's home game against the Chicago Bulls and Monday night's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Richardson's suspension comes at an inopportune time for the Magic even though the team already has clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Quentin Richardson, Gerald Henderson 

Scratch the idea of Gerald Henderson going to the Charlotte Bobcats’ Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, in what would have been a rehab assignment. Coach Larry Brown said pre-game that owner Michael Jordan and general manager Rod Higgins didn’t favor that. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, D-League, Larry Brown, Rod Higgins, Gerald Henderson 

From my colleague, Ron Green Jr., who covered Bobcats practice today while I was off: The Bobcats might send Gerald Henderson for a brief stint with their Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, in something similar to a baseball rehab assignment. Henderson has been out about a month with tendonitis in his left knee. Coach Larry Brown said If Henderson went to Maine later this week, he could play three games in four nights, to get back his game-conditioning. "The thing we want him to understand is it's not a demotion,'' Brown said after practice Monday, the first one Henderson has fully participated in in weeks. With the Bobcats playing games three of the next four nights, there isn't much opportunity for Henderson to practice. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, D-League, Larry Brown, Gerald Henderson 

I spoke with Gerald Henderson last night about the tendonitis in his left knee. He went to Duke earlier this week for a second opinion on the injury, which has kept him out since early November. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Gerald Henderson 

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on point guard D.J. Augustin and the third-year option on guard Gerald Henderson. NBA.com

Charlotte Bobcats, DJ Augustin, Gerald Henderson 

As expected, the Charlotte Bobcats have exercised their rookie-scale contract options on D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson for next season. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, DJ Augustin, Gerald Henderson