The expansion draft for the construction of the Charlotte Bobcats, recognized at the time as the 30th NBA franchise, was held on June 22, 2004.[1] The Bobcats selected 19 players from other teams' unprotected players lists and constructed their squad for what was regarded at the time as their inaugural season.[2]
This was the second time an expansion draft was held for a Charlotte NBA franchise; prior to starting the 2014–15 season, the Bobcats reacquired the history, and name, of the original Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002) franchise. The original team had relocated to New Orleans prior to starting the 2002–03 season, operating as the New Orleans Hornets. Prior to starting the 2013–14 season, the New Orleans Hornets were renamed the New Orleans Pelicans, and relinquished the rights to the Hornets name and pre-New Orleans history after season's end.[a]
In 2014, the Hornets reacquired the history and records of the original Hornets from 1988 to 2002 as part of an agreement with the NBA and the Pelicans. The records from 2002 to 2013 remained with the Pelicans franchise.[22]
FA Denotes player who would be a restricted free agent in the 2004–2005 season. According to the expansion draft rules, a restricted free agent who was selected in the expansion draft would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2004.
a Number of years played in the NBA prior to the draft
b Career with the expansion franchise that drafted the player
Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of future draft picks between the teams, along with a particular agreement in the expansion draft.
^"Primoz Brezec Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Richie Frahm Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Jason Kapono Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Zaza Pachulia Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Sasha Pavlovic Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Gerald Wallace Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
^"Jahidi White Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2010.