Rick Bonnell and Tim Whitmire of the Charlotte Observer report: After months of insisting the team is not for sale, Charlotte Hornets owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge are now open to selling the team, two informed sources told The Observer.

Faced with mounting financial losses and needing to decide their future in less than three months, Hornets management has let it be known that the owners would consider offers, the sources said.

It was unclear Thursday who potential buyers might be, and whether they would want to keep the NBA team in Charlotte or move it to another city.

Wooldridge said he knows of no current discussions about a sale.

But asked if the owners would listen to an offer for the team, he said, "I would think that would be true. Would you talk to me if I brought you information about buying your house?"

Wooldridge owns 35 percent of the team, and Shinn owns the other 65 percent. A Hornets spokesman declined comment on Shinn's behalf.

Wooldridge said he has the right of first refusal, allowing him to buy any portion of the team that Shinn agrees to sell to someone else. Asked about a possible sale by Shinn, Wooldridge said, "He can't do anything without me."