The Charlotte Bobcats have begun the process of changing the team name to the Hornets, according to CBS Sports. The Charlotte Hornets played in North Carolina as an expansion team from 1988 until 2002 when owner George Shinn moved the franchise to New Orleans. With the New Orleans franchise rebranding to the Pelicans next season, the door is open for Charlotte to reclaim the team name. That's exactly what is happening.

The Bobcats took their name from Robert Johnson, the man who brought them into existence in 2004 as the owner of the expansion franchise. Johnson sold his shares to minority owner Michael Jordan in February of 2010, making Jordan the first former player to own an NBA team.

The rebranding is a welcome change for the Bobcats, who finished with the worst record in the NBA in 2011-2012 and the second-worst record in 2012-2013. As the Hornets, Charlotte reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals four times between 1993-2002.

NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said a potential name change would take at least 18 months to implement.

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