The New Orleans Pelicans are set to establish a G League franchise

One of the last remaining NBA teams without a minor-league affiliate is apparently making moves to fix that blind spot in its development pipeline.

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to establish a G League franchise in Birmingham, Ala., league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

With the facility in Birmingham not yet complete, the Pelicans’ affiliate will reportedly begin play in Erie, Pa., next season. The Atlanta Hawks’ G League team, the Bayhawks, currently plays in Erie but is relocating to College Park, Ga., for 2019-20.

As news of the reported expansion broke, the Pelicans released a media advisory teasing a “major business announcement” coming Wednesday afternoon.