When the Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans for the 2002-03 Basketball season, the city and the NBA agreed to create a new team in Charlotte for the 2004-2005 season. Several ownership groups, including one led by previous Boston Celtics star Larry Bird, made bids for the Basketball team. In the end, a group led by BET billionaire Robert L. Johnson won out. Johnson is one of the first prominent African-American owners in U.S. sports. The Charlotte "Bobcats" name originated from him, since he is a "cat named Bob". Another notable co-owner is minority owner and rapper Nelly.

The Charlotte Bobcats team plays in the Eastern Conference's Southeastern division, along with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards.

The Charlotte Bobcats held their expansion draft on Tuesday, June 22, 2004, picking up such seasoned players as Predrag Drobnjak and relative newcomers like Theron Smith. They also traded with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire the second pick in the 2004 NBA Basketball Draft, which they used to choose Emeka Okafor, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2005.

Their first game was a 103-96 loss to the Washington Wizards on November 4, 2004. Charlotte Bobcats won their first game in franchise history over the Orlando Magic 111-100 on November 6. Later, on November 23, the Charlotte Bobcats posted a 91-89 win over the Detroit Pistons, becoming the first expansion Basketball team since 1971 to defeat defending NBA Champions. After the regular season, Charlotte Bobcats would finish with the best record in one of the NBA's summer leagues, the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue.

Bobcats Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The mandate for change is in force with the Bobcats. They spent the days leading up to the draft assessing the trade value of their players. They had serious discussions with the Toronto Raptors about a deal that would have sent Gerald Wallace to Canada in return for Raptors point guard T.J. Ford.

Ford will instead go to the Indiana Pacers, in a deal for forward Jermaine O'Neal that will be consummated in July. But there's little doubt that the Bobcats are re-evaluating everything under new coach Larry Brown.

The Bobcats addressed their areas of need—point guard and big man—with their two first-round picks Thursday. However, there's little reason to assume those rookies—Texas point guard D.J.

Sonics leave Seattle drenched, but in better shape (Yahoo! Sports) Nearly everyone involved in the Sonics-Seattle case looks foolish. But the bizarre limbo dance is over and the franchise can move on.

Bobcats, injury-riddled Harrington part ways (AP) The Charlotte Bobcats have declined to pick up a team option on the contract of forward Othella Harrington, making him an unrestricted free agent. The move Tuesday was no surprise after Harrington missed 71 games in two seasons with the Bobcats due to two surgeries on his left knee. The 34-year-old Harrington played in only 22 games last season and averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Bobcats make offers to Okafor, Hollins (PA SportsTicker) CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Charlotte Bobcats have extended qualifying offers to forward-center Emeka Okafor and center Ryan Hollins, the team announced Tuesday.