In 1985, the NBA announced plans to expand by adding three new teams by the 1988-89 season. Among the cities considered, Charlotte stood out—but not without skepticism. While the city was a hotbed for college basketball and once hosted the ABA’s Carolina Cougars, it wasn’t known as a significant sports attraction. Concerns were raised about whether Charlotte could support an NBA franchise. However, the city had a considerable asset: a state-of-the-art, 24,000-seat arena, one of its most extensive and modern facilities. This and the region’s basketball fervor ultimately convinced the NBA to award Charlotte its 24th franchise.
With the franchise secured, Charlotte quickly set about establishing its identity. They were initially slated to be called the Charlotte Spirit. Still, a fan-driven name-the-team contest led to the selection of the Charlotte Hornets—a nod to the city’s rebellious history during the Revolutionary War. The team’s teal branding sparked a nationwide craze for Hornets apparel in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team further distinguished itself by introducing pinstripes on their jerseys, a design choice that other franchises would later emulate.
As the Hornets enter their 35th season in the NBA, they approach the 2024-25 campaign with renewed optimism. The team’s offseason moves have garnered positive reviews, but they raise an important question: Have these transactions set the Hornets on a path to sustained success, or will they be back in the lottery? While only time will tell how this season unfolds, it’s worth reflecting on how past offseasons have shaped the franchise’s fortunes. Let’s look at some critical offseasons over the last 25 years that either propelled the Hornets forward or set them back.
Best Offseason: 2004
Since their inception, the Hornets have been one of the NBA’s most popular teams. During their first tenure in Charlotte, they ranked 6th in attendance overall, with an impressive seven consecutive seasons (1990-1996) as the league’s number-one team in fan turnout. However, by 1997, the franchise began to see a steep decline in attendance, culminating in a last-place ranking during the 2001-02 season. How could a team that once captured the hearts of so many fans lose its popularity so quickly? The answer lies mainly in the actions of owner George Shinn.
Shinn, once beloved, became hated in Charlotte due to allegations and his push to relocate the franchise. Shinn demanded a new stadium, but when Charlotte resisted, he followed through and moved the team to New Orleans. The loss of the Hornets left a void in the city, but the NBA was quick to act. The league promised a new Charlotte team to avoid a legal battle like the NFL’s Browns relocation to Baltimore.
This promise began to take shape in December 2002 when Robert Johnson, the founder of BET, led an ownership group to purchase the expansion franchise. Johnson became the NBA’s first African-American majority owner, a milestone for Charlotte and the league.
The Results?
As the 2004-05 season unfolded, the Bobcats experienced the growing pains typical of an expansion team. They finished with an 18-64 record, tied for the second-worst in the NBA alongside the New Orleans Hornets. Despite their struggles, there were reasons for optimism. The Bobcats ranked fourth in offensive rebounds, sixth in steals, and sixth in turnovers, highlighting a solid defensive approach.
Emeka Okafor shined, winning NBA Rookie of the Year with 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Gerald Wallace impressed with 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks, shooting 44% from the field. Brevin Knight had a career year, averaging 10.1 points, 9.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. He ranked 5th in steals and 2nd in assists.
Worst Offseason: 1996
After finishing the 1995-96 season with a 41-41 record, the Charlotte Hornets were determined to revamp their roster and take the next step toward contention. The process began in November 1995 when the Hornets traded star center Alonzo Mourning to the Miami Heat in exchange for a package that included Glen Rice and Matt Geiger. Then, in July 1996, the Hornets traded another franchise cornerstone, Larry Johnson, to the New York Knicks for Anthony Mason. On paper, these moves gave the Hornets a fresh start with a blend of veteran talent and emerging stars, seemingly setting the stage for success. However, a decision made during the 1996 NBA Draft would ultimately define this offseason as one of the worst in franchise history.
With the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant, a 17-year-old phenom with the aura of a future superstar. Despite Bryant’s immense potential, the Hornets’ scouting department did not believe he was ready to make an impact at the professional level. The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, saw in Bryant the potential to be a game-changing player. The Lakers, looking to free up salary space to sign Shaquille O’Neal, proposed a trade: they would send veteran center Vlade Divac to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant. Believing that Divac could immediately fill the void left by Mourning, the Hornets agreed to the deal, a decision that would alter the course of NBA history.
The Results
In the short term, the moves didn’t hurt the Hornets. The team improved their record by 13 games, finishing the 1996-97 season with a 54-28 record. Divac contributed solid numbers, averaging 12.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. Mason proved his worth, averaging 16.2 points and 11.4 rebounds, while Rice emerged as a bona fide star, leading the team with 26.8 points per game.
However, the long-term consequences of trading Bryant became glaringly apparent as his career unfolded. Bryant went on to achieve one of the most decorated careers in NBA history, amassing accolades that include:
- 5x NBA Champion
- 2x NBA Finals MVP
- League MVP (2009)
- 18x All-Star
- 4x All-Star MVP
- 11x All-NBA 1st Team
- 2x All-NBA 2nd Team
- 2x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 9x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 3x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 2x Scoring Champion
- Slam Dunk Contest Winner
- All-Rookie 2nd Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Since drafting Bryant, the Hornets/Bobcats have made the playoffs only eight times. During his 20-season career, Bryant led the Lakers to 15 playoff appearances, including eight straight from 1996 to 2003 and another seven consecutive from 2005 to 2012. It’s impossible to know how the Hornets would have built around Bryant. However, trading him remains one of the biggest “what ifs” in franchise history—still debated by fans and analysts.
2009
Since basketball’s return to Charlotte, the Bobcats have experienced unfulfilling results. They had yet to make a playoff appearance, and the team lacked stability. After the 2007-08 season, in which Sam Vincent led the team to a disappointing 32-50 record, the Bobcats needed a new direction. Enter Michael Jordan, who sought out an all-time great to turn things around: Larry Brown.
Brown was only three seasons removed from leading the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s elite coaches. However, his brief tenure with the New York Knicks had ended in disaster, marred by conflicts with players and an over-bloated roster that proved too challenging to manage. Looking to re-establish himself and rejuvenate his coaching career, Brown accepted the job in Charlotte. Almost immediately, he began to reshape the team’s identity. Despite a 35-47 record in 2008-09, the Bobcats improved significantly under Brown’s defensive strategy, becoming a top-10 team.
In the 2009 offseason, the Bobcats made several key moves to bolster their lineup. They drafted Gerald Henderson with the 12th pick, a promising young guard who would eventually become a key contributor. In a significant trade, the Bobcats sent Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Tyson Chandler, a move designed to enhance their defensive presence. Additionally, the team re-signed point guard Raymond Felton and brought in veteran scorer Ronald “Flip” Murray to add depth.
The Results
The Bobcats’ transformation into a legitimate playoff contender didn’t fully materialize until they acquired Stephen Jackson in November 2009. Jackson quickly became the team’s go-to scorer, embodying the defensive mindset that Brown had instilled. In 72 games, Jackson averaged 21.1 points on 44% shooting, providing the offensive punch the Bobcats had missed. Chandler’s stats weren’t standout, but his defense and leadership were crucial to the team’s success.
Under Brown’s guidance and new additions, the Bobcats finished the 2009-10 season as the league’s top team in both opponents’ points per game and defensive rating. This defensive dominance propelled the Bobcats to their first playoff appearance in franchise history, where they faced the Orlando Magic in the first round. Although they were swept 4-0 by a formidable Magic team, the Bobcats’ postseason berth marked a significant milestone and their best season since the 2001-02 campaign.
2011
The 2011-12 season was a perfect storm for the Charlotte Bobcats. Off-season limitations and on-court struggles led to a historically poor performance. The NBA lockout delayed the season, restricting the team’s ability to make significant roster changes. With the 7th pick in the draft, the Bobcats chose Bismack Biyombo, a raw but promising shot-blocker. They also selected Kemba Walker, a dynamic point guard fresh off an NCAA Championship. The lockout, however, left the Bobcats with limited time to develop chemistry or improve further.
When the lockout finally ended, the Bobcats made a few modest moves, signing Derrick Brown and Reggie Williams while losing key players like Jackson and Wallace. The team entered the shortened season with a roster lacking depth and star power, which showed on the court. After winning their first game, the Bobcats lost 17 of their next 19, setting the tone for the worst season in NBA history by winning percentage. The team endured two losing streaks of 10 or more games, including a 23-game skid to close the season.
The Results
Statistically, the Bobcats were among the league’s worst in almost every category. Henderson led with 15.1 points per game, while Walker showed potential but averaged 12.1 points on 36% shooting. Biyombo, though raw, led the team in rebounds (5.8) and blocks (1.8), and D.J. Augustin paced the team in assists with 6.4 per game. Despite individual efforts, the team’s .106 winning percentage set an NBA record, with a 23-game losing streak among the longest.
The disastrous season led to the dismissal of head coach Paul Silas, and the franchise faced an uphill battle to rebuild. This process would take several years before returning to playoff contention in the 2013-14 season. The 2011-12 season was a franchise low, highlighting how swiftly an NBA team can descend into despair.
In Conclusion
As the Hornets look toward the future, they carry the lessons of their past—both the triumphs and the missteps. The franchise’s journey has been unpredictable, from early excitement and losing Kobe Bryant to tough rebuilding seasons like 2011-12. Each offseason has shaped the team’s path, revealing potential or serving as reminders of missed opportunities.
