Was reading an article in the Washington POst today about a new procedure to grow cartilage from a a sample taken from your body. This new cartilage can be eventually injected back into your knee, or other area of damaged cartilage.
Right now the procedure is either clearing out debris to smooth the area out, or taking cartlilage from another area to fill a hole.
Regardless, here is the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46443-2002Jul22.html
Probably not in time for MJ but I am sure this could be an offseason move for guys in the NBA very soon.