NBA: What's in a name? New Orleans contemplating switch from Hornets to Pelicans

A few days after Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, expressed his desire to bring back the Charlotte Hornets monicker, should it become available, the New Orleans Hornets may just make that happen, following a report that the team is "expected to change their nickname to the Pelicans," says Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears.

Jordan had earlier told the Charlotte Observer that taking back the Hornets nickname was "definitely an interest down the road," but pointed out that it was currently with the New Orleans NBA team.

"We would definitely entertain the opportunity. That's as much as we can say right now. We've heard the community ask the question, and we would listen," Jordan added.

Then on Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time), Spears reported that the New Orleans team could become the New Orleans Pelicans by "as early as the 2013-13 season," citing "numerous sources."

Louisiana, which is where New Orleans is located, is known as the Pelican State. The team's new owner, Tom Benson, has also expressed a desire to change the team's colors. 

NBA has final say on #Hornets colors & name change. That process has not yet begun. Red, navy & gold is the combination the Bensons prefer.

— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) November 29, 2012

Back when the Charlotte franchise began in 1988, it was known as the Hornets, until the franchise moved to New Orleans in 2002. Charlotte then got a new team in 2004, taking the name Bobcats.

Any name and team color changes require the approval of the NBA. - AMD, GMA News