Tom Benson owns the rights to the name
According to Yahoo! Sports, the New Orleans Hornets are expected to become the New Orleans Pelicans.
Hornets owner Tom Benson holds the rights to the name and the change could occur next season.
The team also reportedly considered the names "Krewe" and "Brass."
The brown pelican is the state bird and the Pelicans played minor league baseball in New Orleans.
Tom Benson's wife Gayle reported last week that a new name had been selected but would not be formally announced until the end of the current season. She also told Fox Sports New Orleans that the team's new colors would be red, gold and navy blue.
