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ORLANDO, Fla. -- They might be the Charlotte Hornets only as long as they remain in the playoffs.
Deputy NBA commissioner Russ Granik said Tuesday, that the move from Charlotte to New Orleans looks "pretty positive."
Granik addressed the media prior to Game 4 of the Orlando-Charlotte playoff series. Charlotte led best-of-five series 2-1 heading into Tuesday's Game 4.
"Our relocation committee should have its report out by the end of this week," Granik said. "And we'll announce what the outcome is. Based on what we've seen in New Orleans, unless there are some real surprises, it looks like there is a great deal of support there.
"It looks like it's going that way now. It looks pretty positive."
Granik also addressed instant replay, which surfaced in Game 3 of the Hornets-Magic series Saturday. Charlotte's Baron Davis banked in a shot that clearly beat the buzzer after the Hornets inbounded with 0.7 seconds left and the score tied, but referee Bernie Fryer waved the shot off while it was in the air.
Fryer said the officiating crew had discussed beforehand that no player could catch, turn and shoot in that amount of time. The Hornets went on to win in overtime.
Granik said officials knew the shot beat the clock, but stuck by the decision they had reached in their prior discussion.
"I think the referee made a judgment which was not appropriate under the circumstances," Granik said. "We're going to take a look at instant replay for next year. Our competition committee will address it the first week of June when they meet."
Deputy NBA commissioner Russ Granik said Tuesday, that the move from Charlotte to New Orleans looks "pretty positive."
Granik addressed the media prior to Game 4 of the Orlando-Charlotte playoff series. Charlotte led best-of-five series 2-1 heading into Tuesday's Game 4.
"Our relocation committee should have its report out by the end of this week," Granik said. "And we'll announce what the outcome is. Based on what we've seen in New Orleans, unless there are some real surprises, it looks like there is a great deal of support there.
"It looks like it's going that way now. It looks pretty positive."
Granik also addressed instant replay, which surfaced in Game 3 of the Hornets-Magic series Saturday. Charlotte's Baron Davis banked in a shot that clearly beat the buzzer after the Hornets inbounded with 0.7 seconds left and the score tied, but referee Bernie Fryer waved the shot off while it was in the air.
Fryer said the officiating crew had discussed beforehand that no player could catch, turn and shoot in that amount of time. The Hornets went on to win in overtime.
Granik said officials knew the shot beat the clock, but stuck by the decision they had reached in their prior discussion.
"I think the referee made a judgment which was not appropriate under the circumstances," Granik said. "We're going to take a look at instant replay for next year. Our competition committee will address it the first week of June when they meet."
