Pelicans announce Alabama G League affiliate

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

The New Orleans Pelicans announced the organization is establishing a G League franchise in Birmingham, Ala.

"We've done our due diligence and researched markets across the region, and no one matched the interest and investment that the City of Birmingham will provide," said Pelicans president Dennis Lauscha. "Our NBA G League franchise is prepared to move to Birmingham as soon as the infrastructure and resources are in place, and we are willing to wait until renovations to Legacy Arena are complete to ensure we have the best facilities in the entire NBA G League."

The Pelicans' affiliate will begin play in Erie, Pa., next season with a plan to move to the Gulf South in time for 2022-23. The Atlanta Hawks' G League team, the Bayhawks, currently plays in Erie but is relocating to College Park, Ga., for the 2019-20 season.

The addition of the Birmingham franchise leaves the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers as the only NBA teams without a dedicated G League affiliate for the start of the 2019-20 season.