<P> The 1996 off - season was again marked by vast changes: Anderson declined to re-sign, Johnson was shipped to the Knicks for power forward Anthony Mason, and the team made a trade on draft day 1996, acquiring center Vlade Divac from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the rights to rookie Kobe Bryant, who the Hornets picked 13th overall . The new - look Hornets were successful, with Divac and Geiger providing the center combination, Mason averaging a double - double, Bogues back at the point, and Rice having the finest season of his career . The team achieved the best season in its history at the time, finishing 54--28, and making it back to the playoffs . Despite the success during the regular season, the Hornets went down rather meekly to the Knicks in three games . </P> <P> The 1997--98 season was also successful . Muggsy Bogues was traded two games into the season, and the team picked up point guard David Wesley and shooting guard Bobby Phills . With Wesley, Phills, Rice, Mason, and Divac, the Hornets romped through the regular season, finishing with a 51--31 record . The Hornets made it to back - to - back playoffs for the first time in franchise history, advancing to the second round, only to be stopped by the Bulls . </P> <P> The 1998--99 season was shortened . The season did not start until February, as the lockout shortened the regular season to only 50 games . Additionally, Glen Rice was traded to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell, and Dave Cowens resigned midway through the season . He was replaced by former Celtics teammate Paul Silas, who became the team's fifth head coach . The team finished with a 26--24 record, but failed to qualify for the playoffs . </P> <P> The next three seasons (1999--2000, 2000--01 and 2001--02) saw the Hornets in the playoffs each year, reaching the conference semifinals twice . Before the Hornets were eliminated from the 2002 playoffs, the NBA approved a deal for the team to move to New Orleans following the season . The reason for the Hornets departure was mainly because of the poor ownership, George Shinn was not very loyal to the city of Charlotte as in 1990 half way through the teams second season, he was under fire for suggesting the team might move to an area in South Carolina . </P>

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