The Hornets will get a head start on season preparations when they begin training camp Sept. 27.
The Hornets, the Wizards, the Nets, and the Heat have been given permission by the NBA to start camp early because they are participating in NBA's Europe Live. This will be an unusually short offseason for the Hornets, who advanced to the second round of the playoffs and played seven games before losing to the Spurs. This is the earliest the Hornets have begun training camp since moving to New Orleans in 2002.
The Hornets will play the Wizards on Oct. 14 in Berlin and Oct. 17 in Barcelona. Their stateside preseason opener will be Oct. 5 against the Warriors in the New Orleans Arena.
Coach Byron Scott said he's excited to get started and embraces the lofty expectations surrounding the Hornets after they won their first division title last season.
The offseason was especially short for All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in August. Paul said this summer was his toughest because it was his busiest.
Scott said he'll monitor Paul's workload, in training camp, the preseason, and early in the regular season so he doesn't wear him down after the strenuous summer.
