New Orleans Hornets say reported name change not up to them

Hold off on your New Orleans Pelicans jersey orders.

The New Orleans Hornets did not confirm or deny their name-change intentions, reported by Yahoo! Sports. But the final say is not in their hands.

"Been getting flooded with calls. Telling everyone that any name and color changes are controlled by the NBA and that process has yet to take shape," Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman said.

Yahoo's report said the Hornets would change their name as early as next season. When New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson bought the team in April, he said he wanted to change the team's nickname.

The Brown Pelican is the state bird of Louisiana and Pelicans was the former name of the city's minor league baseball team from 1887-1959 and 1977. Benson owned the rights to the name Pelicans.

Contributing: Kevin Spain and Hoopsworld's Steve Kyler