Charlotte Hornets · Franchise era 2 of 5
A steady playoff team leaves: the Charlotte Hornets story
Franchise era
1995–96—2001–02
A steady playoff team leaves
Charlotte Hornets
The story in one sentence
The Hornets remained competitive through multiple cores, but a damaged ownership relationship ended with relocation to New Orleans.
Rice, Jones and Davis keep winning
Glen Rice, Eddie Jones and Baron Davis gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the bobcats.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1995–96
What came before
Charlotte became an attendance phenomenon and playoff team behind Johnson, Mourning and Bogues before the young stars were traded.
July 11, 1996
The draft-night trade that sent Kobe to Los Angeles
The Lakers bet on a 17-year-old guard before he had played an NBA minute—and created the flexibility to chase Shaquille O'Neal.
03Draft-night gambleJuly 11, 1996LAL⇄CHAKobe's draft-night tradeCharlotte selected Kobe Bryant at No. 13 for Los Angeles, then sent his rights to the Lakers for veteran center Vlade Divac.2 assets · 1 outcomes＋
The original receipt
Los Angeles Lakers received
- • Draft rights to Kobe Bryant · No. 13
Charlotte Hornets received
- • Vlade Divac
One draft-night agreement helped place two future Hall of Famers in Los Angeles and set up a three-peat.
Open full trade tree →1998
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls
2001
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks
2002
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Charlotte Hornets vs New Jersey Nets
After 2001–02
What came next
The replacement franchise reached the 2010 playoffs around Wallace before a teardown produced the lockout season's 7–59 record.
The core