The Hornets will play most of their home games in Oklahoma City next season with New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
The NBA announced yesterday that the Hornets will play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans in 2006-07.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement the league remains committed to returning to New Orleans, but "for now, our collective interests are best served by having the team play the bulk of its 2006-07 schedule in Oklahoma City.
"However, we are hopeful that the team will be in a position to return to New Orleans full time beginning in the 2007-08 season."
The agreement reached between the state of Louisiana and the Hornets allows the team to amend its lease agreement with the New Orleans Arena.
"The agreement reached today will ensure the Hornets stability while the New Orleans market fully recovers and, at the same time, maintains our presence in the NBA," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) said.
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