Editing New Orleans Pelicans (section)

===2005–2011: the Chris Paul era===
[[File:Chris Paul.jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Chris Paul]], selected by the Hornets as the fourth pick of the [[2005 NBA draft]]]]
In the [[2005 NBA draft|subsequent draft]], the Hornets used their first-round pick to select point guard [[Chris Paul]] out of [[Wake Forest University]]. Because of the catastrophic devastation brought by [[Hurricane Katrina]] upon the communities of southeastern [[Louisiana]], the Hornets franchise [[Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans Hornets|temporarily relocated]] its base of operations to [[Oklahoma City|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]], in 2005–06 and 2006–07, posting records of 38–44 and 39–43 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hornets to Play in Oklahoma City|url=http://www.nba.com/pelicans/multimedia/ok_city_050921.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Pelicans.com|date=September 21, 2005|access-date=September 21, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222063507/http://www.nba.com/pelicans/multimedia/ok_city_050921.html|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this time, the franchise was known as the '''New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets'''. In these two seasons, most home games were played at the [[Chesapeake Energy Arena|Ford Center]] in Oklahoma City, while a few remained at New Orleans Arena. One year after the Hornets moved back to New Orleans permanently, the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] [[Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|relocated to Oklahoma City]] and became the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]].

The Hornets franchise returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007–08 season, with all 41 home games in the New Orleans Arena. The 2008 [[NBA All-Star Game]] and its accompanying festivities were awarded to New Orleans and a serious marketing campaign was commenced in February 2007. Healthier than previous seasons, the Hornets opened the season with a 29–12 record at the halfway mark, completing the regular season with a record of 56–26, making the season their most successful ever. The Hornets also won their first division title, winning the [[Southwest Division (NBA)|Southwest Division]]. Having clinched the second overall seed for the Western Conference in the [[2008 NBA playoffs|2008 playoffs]], the Hornets beat the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in the first round, but then lost to the defending-champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] in seven games in the conference semifinals.

In August 2008, the Hornets unveiled a modified logo and new uniforms with the colors of Creole blue, purple, and [[Mardi Gras]] gold. Pinstripes were also added to the uniforms. The Hornets also introduced a new gold alternate uniform in 2010 which was used mostly in games played on Saturday at home and on the road. The Hornets finished the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09 season]] with a 49–33 record. Facing the [[Denver Nuggets]] in the first round of the [[2009 NBA playoffs|2009 playoffs]], the Hornets were eliminated in five games. The Hornets started the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]] with a 3–6 record and fired head coach [[Byron Scott]]. General manager [[Jeff Bower (basketball)|Jeff Bower]] took over the head coaching duties for the remainder of the season. The Hornets finished the season with a 37–45 record and last in the Southwest Division they had won two seasons prior. Jeff Bower resigned as head coach and [[Monty Williams]] was brought in as new head coach. The team finished the [[2010–11 NBA season|2010–11 season]] with a 46–36 record and qualified for the [[2011 NBA playoffs]], where they lost to the Lakers four games to two.

In December 2010, the NBA purchased the Hornets from [[George Shinn]] for an estimated $300 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Dashiell|title=Larry Ellison Confirms He Tried To Buy The New Orleans Hornets, But Was Beaten Back By The NBA|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/larry-ellison-confirms-he-tried-to-buy-the-new-orleans-hornets-but-was-beaten-back-by-the-nba-2011-1|work=Business Insider|date=January 7, 2011|access-date=January 7, 2011|archive-date=January 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110033401/http://www.businessinsider.com/larry-ellison-confirms-he-tried-to-buy-the-new-orleans-hornets-but-was-beaten-back-by-the-nba-2011-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBA completes Hornets purchase|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/12/20/hornets-sale.ap/index.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=December 20, 2010|access-date=December 20, 2010|archive-date=December 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226034916/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/12/20/hornets-sale.ap/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2011: the departure of Chris Paul====
Before the [[2011–12 NBA season|2011–12 season]], the Hornets were considering trade offers for Chris Paul and he requested a trade to the [[New York Knicks]]. The Hornets looked at many teams, including the [[Boston Celtics]] and the [[Golden State Warriors]] as trade partners, but Paul had made it clear he wanted to be traded to New York or Los Angeles. A three-team trade involving the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] and the [[Houston Rockets]] was agreed upon, but commissioner [[David Stern]], acting as the President of Basketball Operations for the Hornets (which were owned by the league office at that time) rejected the trade.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ballard |first1=Chris |title=David Stern has no time for war stories |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/24/david-stern-adam-silver-lebron-james-chris-paul-donald-trump-lakers-hornets |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=September 29, 2022 |date=October 24, 2018 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929090849/https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/24/david-stern-adam-silver-lebron-james-chris-paul-donald-trump-lakers-hornets |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html|title=N.B.A. Rejects Trade Sending Paul to Lakers|date=December 8, 2011|last=Beck|first=Howard|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319173239/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 14, 2011, the Hornets agreed to a deal with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] that would send Paul to Los Angeles in exchange for [[Eric Gordon]], [[Chris Kaman]], [[Al-Farouq Aminu]], and a first-round draft pick acquired by the Clippers from a trade with the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] in 2004.