John Denton of the Florida Today reports: Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos said before Friday's game that he believes the NBA will allow the Charlotte Hornets to relocate to New Orleans.

The NBA's Relocation Committee, a group that included Commissioner David Stern, toured New Orleans on Wednesday. The Hornets have sold the number of luxury suites and season tickets that they had hoped for in New Orleans and feel the league will eventually approve the move.

"David (Stern) is sending messages that he's going to approve it, so I think it will happen," said DeVos, who took the Magic off the market earlier this month after initially planning to sell the franchise. "You know somebody (in the league office) sent them down there and told them to try and get those numbers on the boxes and tickets, and they've done it.

"It's a sad thing for Charlotte. I just don't know how they turned on them there. It just shows how a city can turn on an organization and a group of owners.

Hornets' owners George Shinn and Ray Woolridge attended Friday night's game. The owners have failed repeatedly to secure funding for a new arena in Charlotte.