Charlotte, N.C. ? The NBA’s future in Charlotte will reach a critical stage today at the league Board of Governors’ semi-annual meeting, and one potential franchise owner expects the talks to rapidly advance expansion efforts.

Steve Belkin, one of at least three possible owners, said he expects the NBA and its 29 owners will be receptive to the league returning to Charlotte in 2004.

“I know they are going to bring it up for discussion and we’re quite optimistic that it’s going to be favorable,” Belkin said Monday. “Our hope is that they might even consider voting on it at the meeting.”

NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik will outline Charlotte’s progress to the NBA owners at the meeting in New York. But league spokesman Tim Frank said a vote on expansion or the selection of an ownership group is unlikely.

Charlotte lost its NBA team in June when the Hornets moved to New Orleans. Since then, at least three groups have said they would like to bring a team back to Charlotte, and city officials have negotiated with the league on a plan for a new arena.

Belkin, a Boston businessman who has Hall of Famer Larry Bird in his investment group, said he’s been told that progress has been made on an arena deal.

Granik said the NBA could accept a new team playing one season in the Charlotte Coliseum, which lacks the luxury and club suites the Hornets needed to make money, while a new arena is built.

Sonics Seattle forward Rashard Lewis has a sprained left shoulder and will miss today’s exhibition game against Golden State at Missoula, Mont. Lewis was injured in Sunday night’s exhibition game against Utah at Spokane.

Lewis said he felt something pop while tangled up with another player. He had dislocated the shoulder in last season’s playoff series against San Antonio. He reinjured his shoulder in his first game since he signed a seven-year, $60 million contract with the Sonics.

Lewis, 23, averaged a career-high 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 71 games for Seattle last season, his fourth with the Sonics. He led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring.

Magic Orlando waived guard Corey Benjamin and forward-center Jabari Smith on Monday. Benjamin averaged 5.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 144 games in three seasons with Chicago. He played with S.S. Sutor Montegranaro in Italy and with the Southern California Surf of the ABA last season.

Smith averaged 3.2 points in 23 games with Philadelphia last season.