Editing New Orleans Pelicans (section)

====2012–2013: beginning the Anthony Davis era====
On April 13, 2012, it was announced that [[Tom Benson]], owner of the [[National Football League]]'s [[New Orleans Saints]], had purchased the franchise from the NBA for $338 million.<ref name="BensonBuysHornets">{{cite news|title=Saints owner Benson buys Hornets from NBA|url=http://www.nba.com/2012/news/04/13/hornets-sale.ap/index.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=April 13, 2012|access-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117214948/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/04/13/hornets-sale.ap/index.html|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Jimmy|title=New Orleans Hornets to be purchased by New Orleans Saints' owner Tom Benson for $338 million|url=http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/04/new_orleans_hornets_to_be_purc.html|work=[[The Times-Picayune|New Orleans Times-Picayune]]|date=April 13, 2012|access-date=November 1, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215903/http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/04/new_orleans_hornets_to_be_purc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Benson announced that he would change the team name to something that would better suit the region, fueling rumors that the Hornets name could one day return to Charlotte, where the Charlotte Bobcats had been playing since 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwltv.com/sports/NBA-to-announce-All-Star-game-for-New-Orleans-147580715.html |title=Hornets seeking name change, set to build new practice facility |publisher=[[WWL-TV]] |date=April 16, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110000329/http://www.wwltv.com/sports/NBA-to-announce-All-Star-game-for-New-Orleans-147580715.html |archive-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> In June 2012, Benson appointed two senior Saints executives to supervise the Hornets: Saints' general manager [[Mickey Loomis]] became head of basketball operations, overseeing general manager [[Dell Demps]], and Saints' business operations head Dennis Lauscha took on the same role with the Hornets.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.nfl.com/news/mickey-loomis-takes-on-top-new-orleans-hornets-job-09000d5d829f23b5 | title= Mickey Loomis takes on top New Orleans Hornets job | agency= Associated Press | work= NFL.com | date= June 19, 2012 | access-date= October 3, 2012 | archive-date= June 22, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120622014724/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d829f23b5/article/mickey-loomis-takes-on-top-new-orleans-hornets-job | url-status= live}}</ref>

The Hornets traded [[Emeka Okafor]] and [[Trevor Ariza]] to the Wizards for [[Rashard Lewis]], whom they bought out, and a draft pick.

On May 30, 2012, the Hornets were awarded the first overall pick in the [[2012 NBA draft]] and subsequently drafted [[Anthony Davis]]. Some people believed that David Stern rigged the draft lottery to give the Hornets the first overall pick, citing a picture of Davis in a Hornets hat as evidence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfred |first=Tony |title=Conspiracy Theorists Think This Picture Proves That The NBA Fixed The Draft Lottery |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-davis-hornets-hat-2012-5 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Business Insider}}</ref> They also drafted [[Austin Rivers]] with the tenth pick (acquired from the Clippers as part of the Chris Paul trade).

On July 11, 2012, [[Ryan Anderson (basketball, born 1988)|Ryan Anderson]], 2012's [[NBA Most Improved Player Award|Most Improved Player]] and three-point field goals leader, was acquired by the New Orleans Hornets in a sign-and-trade with the [[Orlando Magic]] for [[Gustavo Ayón]].