It's been 20 years since an NBA team called Kansas City home, but Kemper Arena still remains in the picture as a haven for the New Orleans Hornets.

Peter Fink, vice president of NBA Entertainment, toured Kemper last Thursday, a day before a five-member delegation of NBA officials visited Oklahoma City's Ford Center.

The Hornets' home court, the New Orleans Arena, is adjacent to the Superdome, which sustained an estimated $100 million in damage from Hurricane Katrina, and the club could be looking for shelter even beyond this season.

If the Hornets were to relocate for more than one season, they could be a candidate to move into the Sprint Center when it opens in the fall of 2007.

"We pretty much put this year and beyond on the table," said Larry Hovick, general manager of Kemper Arena. "But they're just looking around. In an effort to assist the Hornets, they are scouting the cities that have interest and fact-finding. They didn't say yea, nay, or otherwise.

"We have heard they want to stay closer to home, but we don't know at this time."