Relocation committee to tour proposed home for Charlotte Hornets

New Orleans A relocation committee comprised of several NBA owners meets here today to review the Hornets’ request to move from Charlotte.

Gov. Mike Foster, Mayor Marc Morial, Mayor-elect Ray Nagin, area legislators and business leaders will be among those who greet them, and the state’s congressional delegation is expected to speak to the committee via teleconference.

In about two months, the team has sold more than 8,000 season tickets and 55 luxury suites, with the remainder of the 64 suites in the New Orleans arena to be sold to companies who sign up as corporate sponsors.

“The suites are basically all gone,” said Bill Hines, chairman of Metrovision, the economic development arm of the Chamber of Commerce. “Hopefully we’ll give a good performance (to the committee) and they’ll vote the right way.”

Jordan back at practice

Denver Michael Jordan practiced with the Washington Wizards on Tuesday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, but said he has no plans to play Wednesday against the Nuggets or Thursday in Utah. Jordan had been rehabilitating his right knee since his Feb. 27 surgery and was not with the team for the first four games on its current seven-game trip. Washington is 2-2 on the trip but 4-10 since Jordan had torn cartilage repaired.

Nets’ Harris sidelined

Cleveland Lucious Harris of the New Jersey Nets missed Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a broken cheekbone.

Heat place Ellis on IL

Miami The Miami Heat activated forward LaPhonso Ellis from the injured list before Tuesday’s game against the 76ers. Ellis missed nine games with a strained groin after being placed on the injured list Feb. 28. He averages 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 26 minutes, mostly as a reserve.

Stojakovic hurt again

Sacramento, Calif. All-Star Peja Stojakovic aggravated his strained hamstring just 81 seconds into the Sacramento Kings’ game against Houston on Tuesday night.