The Charlotte Hornets’ inconsistency is starting to boil over into frustration.

That was particularly obvious after Saturday’s 89-80 loss to the short-handed New Jersey Nets.

Even without starting forwards Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn, the Nets rallied from a halftime deficit to drop the Hornets to 14-18 on the season.

"This is frustrating," said captain David Wesley, whose team resumes the current five-game, nine-day homestand tonight at 7 against Denver.

"I’ve been on some really bad teams that have won at least three in a row. This team is capable, and I just don’t understand why we can’t — especially here at home — can’t seem to catch a rhythm that gets us going."

With home games remaining against Denver tonight, Atlanta on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, most figure the Hornets need to get straightened out quickly.

Their 5-9 home record is the second-worst in the NBA.

"It’s just been that kind of season so far where we haven’t taken advantage of our schedule and certain situations like (Saturday night), when they had two of their main scorers out," Wesley said.

Norfolk update

The Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday the effort to secure naming rights for a new downtown Norfolk arena for the Hornets has hit a snag.

Barry E. DuVal, the former Newport News, Va., mayor who is pursuing the naming rights for Norfolk, said a Virginia corporation he declined to name is taking longer than expected to decide whether to sign on as a sponsor.

"There are two serious contenders reviewing this naming rights opportunity," DuVal told the Virginian-Pilot. "One of those corporations we thought was closer to making a positive decision. That corporation’s decision model has slowed down."

The snag comes two weeks after Hornets management sent Norfolk officials a letter specifying how the team would be able to relocate there.

It’s also one of the reasons the Hornets pushed back their self-imposed Jan. 1 deadline to decide where they would play next season.

The Virginian-Pilot reported a Hornets official said Friday such a decision may not come until early February. The Hornets have until March 4 to inform the NBA of its plans to relocate.

Norfolk officials had hoped to announce a naming rights deal, for $60 million or more over 20 years, shortly after Christmas. Now they say an announcement is weeks away.

The officials also acknowledge without a naming rights deal the city can’t compete for the Hornets, who also have discussed relocation with Louisville, Ky., New Orleans, St. Louis, Anaheim, Calif., Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City.

Rumor mill

Wesley, in particular, is no stranger to trade rumors.

After all, with the trade deadline looming a month away, all sorts of rumors will emerge.

Lately, Denver, Portland and Indiana are known to be exploring trade possibilities. Denver’s Nick Van Exel is on record saying he wants to be traded. Bonzi Wells has been the source of much controversy in Portland these days. And some in the NBA feel Indiana is looking to unload guard Jalen Rose.

"I don’t think anyone’s walking around on eggshells," Wesley said last week of all the trade rumors. "I haven’t felt any sense that something’s up.

"Now, I’ve joked about it a lot. Coach (Paul Silas) called me in to talk to me the other day and I said, ‘Am I getting traded?’ But I would have never really thought it, I was just joking around."

Most, Silas in particular, has said the team is simply waiting for George Lynch’s return from a broken foot and if or when Jamal Mashburn returns from a strained abdominal muscle to determine if the team needs a makeover.

"I don’t see any reason why you would want to mess with (our team)," Wesley said. "If we make it through this, you’ve got to believe with either of them in the lineup, we’re that much better."

But Wesley — who has never been traded — understands that won’t kill the rumors.

"This type of stuff happens every year," Wesley said. "I can’t think of a year when I haven’t been out there in some form or fashion, and I haven’t been traded yet. But who knows? You never know."

Jordan’s effect

Hornets employees bristle these days at the notion Michael Jordan could’ve helped the team had owner George Shinn taken him on as a partner instead of Ray Wooldridge in the summer of 1999.

But, while some may dispute the effect Jordan would’ve or could’ve had on the Hornets, there’s no disputing his effect on local business.

Just ask Washington, D.C. businessmen.

"It’s been huge," David Greenberg told The Washington Post.

Greenberg is the senior managing partner of the District Chophouse, located half a block south of the Wizards’ MCI Arena.

After Sept. 11, Greenberg said, he expected a drop in customers. Now, "I am shocked at how busy we are."

Greenberg said his restaurant takes in $20,000 to $25,000 on Wizards game nights, more than double the amount on some nights last season.

Also, the Legal Sea Foods across from the arena reports 20 percent more revenue, and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company a block away is experiencing a 20 to 30 percent increase on game nights.

"You can see a Before Jordan and an After Jordan" in crowds coming to MCI Center, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) told the Post. "He’s turned around the team.... He’s capable of turning around downtown D.C."

What Jordan’s return to the court has done for the long-bumbling Wizards franchise is well-known. The team has announced sellouts at the 20,674-seat MCI Center for all 13 home games so far this year, improving its average crowd by more than 5,000 fans per game, according to the team.

A ticket scalper said last year that interest in Wizards games was so low that he couldn’t sell tickets on the lowest tier of the arena nearest the court. And in many games, he ended up sitting in the good seats himself.

No more.

"This year, I can’t get in to see the games," the scalper told the Post. "But I’m busy making money."

Another scalper said he could sell 75 to 100 tickets for a Wizards game.

Rice return uncertain

Former Hornets All-Star Glen Rice may have to have season-ending foot surgery, based on the results of recent tests.

"If it’s showing that it’s healed a great deal on its own, it’s going to definitely count out going down the road of having surgery," Rice said. "If it’s showing it’s not healed correctly, we have to look at the possibility of having surgery."

Rice has been out since Dec. 8 and on the injured list since Dec. 18. He has missed 13 games.

"I feel like it’s healing," he said. "I’ve been able to get out there and do some things on the treadmill and get on the court and bounce. I’m hoping it’s healing. We’re headed in the right direction."

Haywood’s award

Wizards’ rookie center Brendan Haywood was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 7.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in December.

Before having a 13-rebound game against the Nets, Haywood had cooled a bit over a five-game span, averaging 4.8 points (24 percent shooting), 6.8 rebounds and just one block since Washington’s Dec. 21 victory over the Magic.

There may have been some slippage on Haywood’s part, Washington coach Doug Collins said. But Haywood’s also not catching teams off guard any more.

"They’re preparing for him," Collins said of Haywood. "Teams are doing a good job of taking away those catches where guys are penetrating and he goes up and dunks it. He’s is going to have to keep working. You start having success and your name shows up on the scouting report."

Said Haywood: "I’ve noticed that teams are making a conscious effort now to do some things. When I first came in teams weren’t paying me any attention. Now I’m getting two guys boxing me out on the boards. The guy I’m guarding is moving further away from the basket now. It’s a compliment in a way. They’ve adjusted, now I’ve got to adjust."

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Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards

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