Ultimate 5: The best Hornets lineup since '95

While hoops remain on hiatus theScore's NBA editors will be compiling ultimate starting lineups for each team in the association. The catch: Only players who have been in the league since the 1995-96 season can be included.

When a franchise relocates, its record books usually carry forward with the new team in the new city. For example, all Vancouver Grizzlies records count toward Memphis Grizzlies franchise history. However, that's not the case when it comes to the Charlotte Hornets.

The original Charlotte Hornets relocated to New Orleans in 2002, and Charlotte was then awarded a new expansion team in 2004 - the Bobcats. Later, the then-New Orleans Hornets changed their name to the Pelicans and allowed their pre-relocation history - as the original Charlotte Hornets (1988-02) - to revert back to the newer Charlotte franchise, which rebranded as the Hornets in 2014.

Given that we're only evaluating careers since 1995, here's what we're working with when it comes to the Hornets franchise:

• 1995-02: Original Charlotte Hornets
• 2004-14: Charlotte Bobcats
• 2014-20: New Charlotte Hornets

Guard

Kemba Walker

Walker's inclusion is a no-brainer. He ranks first all time in franchise scoring (12,009 points), second in assists (3,308), and third in games played (605).

From his selection at No. 9 overall out of Connecticut in 2011 to his departure to the Boston Celtics last summer, "Cardiac Kemba" averaged just shy of 20 points per game while adding 5.5 assists, 3.8 boards, and 1.3 steals. His handle was always one of the best in the league and he steadily improved his outside shooting throughout his eight seasons in town.

Though Charlotte only qualified for the playoffs twice during Walker's tenure, the league began to recognize his individual excellence. Walker represented the Hornets at the All-Star Game in each of his final three years with the franchise, and he was named to the All-NBA third team in 2018-19.

Guard

Baron Davis

Davis played three seasons in Charlotte and then continued to suit up for the team once it moved to New Orleans. When counting only his contributions in Charlotte, he put up 12.6 points and 6.5 dimes per game from 1999-2002. He also made his first of two career All-Star appearances in 2002, when he averaged 18.1 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per contest.

The Hornets made the playoffs during all three years in Charlotte with Davis in the fold, recording a pair of first-round series wins that included beating Alonzo Mourning's Miami Heat in 2001 and Tracy McGrady's Orlando Magic in 2002.

Forward

Glen Rice

Speaking of Mourning, the Hornets made the most of an uncomfortable situation in 1995, shipping their franchise big man to the Heat in exchange for a package highlighted by Rice.

Rice then averaged 23.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game with the Hornets from 1995-98. He was named an All-Star in all three seasons and even captured All-Star Game MVP honors in 1997 after dropping 26 points off the bench.

Forward

Gerald Wallace

Following his first three NBA seasons, Wallace looked like he might be on his way out of the league. Nevertheless, the Bobcats plucked him off the Sacramento Kings' hands in the expansion draft, and the Alabama-bred small forward finally got an opportunity to put his pogo-stick athleticism to use.

During parts of seven seasons in Charlotte, Wallace averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks in just under 37 minutes per game. He peaked as an All-Star in 2010, becoming the first Bobcats player to ever achieve that distinction.

Center

Al Jefferson

Jefferson's three seasons with the Hornets included both 2013-14 and 2015-16 - two-thirds of the franchise's winning records since NBA basketball returned to Charlotte in 2004. Jefferson averaged close to 18-9-2 in that span and was named to the All-NBA third team in 2013-14 - the height of his individual career.

Without the date restriction for this list, Mourning - who played for the franchise from 1992-95 - would've been the choice here.

Just Missed

Muggsy Bogues & Larry Johnson

The 5-foot-3 Bogues remains the franchise's all-time assists leader - and perhaps its most fondly remembered player. He dished out 8.8 dimes per game in parts of 10 seasons with the team from 1988-98, but he played only 73 games across parts of three campaigns beyond 1995.

Similarly, "LJ" was a two-time All-Star with the Hornets in the early 1990s, but he only played one season with the franchise beyond 1995.

Emeka Okafor

Okafor's game didn't expand much beyond his Rookie of the Year campaign, but he did average close to 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks per game in 330 appearances with the Bobcats from 2004-09. Perhaps we'd remember the big man differently if he'd played with a better supporting cast.

David Wesley

Wesley never averaged fewer than 13 points per game in his five seasons with Charlotte from 1997-02, and he also added 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Though Wesley had a slightly longer tenure, his backcourt partner in Davis hit a higher peak.