The 2001–02 NBA season was the fourteenth and final season for the original Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets acquired George Lynch and Robert Traylor from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade, and signed free agentStacey Augmon. Despite Jamal Mashburn only playing just 40 games due to injury, the Hornets finished the season second in the Central Division with a 44–38 record, and qualified for their third straight playoff appearance. The Hornets finished twenty-ninth in attendance for the season, a stark contrast to their earlier years in Charlotte. Baron Davis was selected to play in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic 3–1 in the first round of the playoffs, but lost 4–1 in the semifinals to the New Jersey Nets. Following the season, the Hornets relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and became the New Orleans Hornets. The city of Charlotte would return to the NBA two seasons later with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who began play in the 2004-05 season. That franchise changed its name to the Hornets in 2014 after the original franchise renamed itself the Pelicans, and also reclaimed the original Hornets' history from 1988 to 2002. As a result, the Hornets are now reckoned as having suspended operations after this season before returning as the Bobcats in 2004.
Offseason
NBA draft
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College
1
16
Kirk Haston
PF
United States
Indiana
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Playoffs
East First Round
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Hornets and Magic.
East Conference Semifinals
New Jersey Nets vs. Charlotte Hornets Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Nets and Hornets.
As part of a 3-team trade, the Charlotte Hornets traded Derrick Coleman to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Charlotte Hornets traded cash to the Golden State Warriors; the Golden State Warriors traded Chris Porter to the Charlotte Hornets; the Golden State Warriors traded Corie Blount and Vonteego Cummings to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Philadelphia 76ers traded George Lynch, Jérôme Moïso and Robert Traylor to the Charlotte Hornets; and the Philadelphia 76ers traded Cedric Henderson and a 2005 1st round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors.
