The2004–05New Orleans Hornets season was the franchise's third season in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] The Hornets moved from theEastern Conference'sCentral Division to the tougherSouthwest Division of theWestern Conference for the season. Under new head coachByron Scott, the Hornets played and suffered their worst basketball ways losing their first eight games, which led to an awful 2–29 start. Many players were traded away during the season. The team tradedDavid Wesley to theHouston Rockets in December, then midway through the season dealtBaron Davis to theGolden State Warriors, and sentJamal Mashburn, who was lost for the entire season with a knee injury, to thePhiladelphia 76ers forGlenn Robinson, who never played for the Hornets and was released to free agency and signed with theSan Antonio Spurs. Mashburn would never suit up for the 76ers.

The Hornets continued to struggle, losing their final nine games finishing last place in the Southwest Division with a dreadful 18–64 record, which was the same record as the newly rechristenedCharlotte Bobcats. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.^{[Notes 1]}

For the season, they added new yellow road alternate uniform they remained in used until 2008.

On June 16, the Hornets claimed Brazilian swingmanAlex Garcia on waivers from theSan Antonio Spurs. On June 22, the2004 NBA expansion draft took place, and the Hornets lost guardMaurice Carter to theCharlotte Bobcats. Two days later, theNBA draft took place.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	18	J.R. Smith	SG	United States
2	44	Tim Pickett	SF	United States	Florida State

In the draft, the Hornets draftedJ. R. Smith andTim Pickett.^[2] Smith would play only two seasons with the Hornets, and Pickett would not play in the NBA. On July 19, the Hornets signedChris Andersen. Andersen would be with the Hornets for four seasons, missing the2006–07 season due to a suspension for substance abuse. On August 3, the Hornets signed formerSixth Man of the YearRodney Rogers. Rogers would be traded to thePhiladelphia 76ers, along withJamal Mashburn, on February 24 forGlenn Robinson. On September 29, the Hornets signedTremaine Fowlkes andBritton Johnsen. The following day, the team signedLorinza "Junior" Harrington andLee Nailon. On October 28, the Hornets waived Fowlkes, and three days later, they waived Johnsen.^[3]

• New Orleans Hornets on Basketball Reference

• New Orleans Hornets seasons

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