Diaz, Thornton get noticed in different ways

Perhaps in another life, Guillermo Diaz was a wide receiver, Corey Maggette a defensive back and Sam Cassell a quarterback.

In a lighthearted moment at the end of Monday’s practice, several of the Clippers turned the court into a gridiron field, running routes and using a basketball as a football.

“Charlie Ward, baby, Charlie Ward,” Cassell said as he dropped back, an ode to his fellow Florida State alumnus who won the Heisman Trophy and also played basketball for the New York Knicks.

Let the record reflect that Maggette intercepted three passes, Diaz caught one long pass, and the other was incomplete.

“Corey would make a great football player,” Cassell said. “He’s athletic enough. He would make a great anything.”

Diaz, a 6-foot-2 guard, was the Clippers’ second-round draft pick in 2006 from Miami. He said he would have loved playing football growing up, but there was one problem.

His native Puerto Rico doesn’t offer it.

“I never played football,” he said. “I was just trying to improvise something and have fun.”

Diaz probably will receive extended minutes in the Clippers’ exhibition against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in his bid to turn enough heads to earn a roster berth.

“Nothing is guaranteed for me, so I have to do my best every time out there,” he said.

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Rookie Al Thornton played his first of many games against the Lakers and survived his first defensive brush with Kobe Bryant.

“It wasn’t what I expected, but I had fun out there,” Thornton said. “I enjoyed it. I was able to get into a rhythm and knock down some shots.”

What wasn’t expected?

“Honestly, I thought Kobe was going to score about 50,” he said.

Bryant didn’t, as he played sparingly. But a defensive switch with Quinton Ross left Thornton guarding Bryant on one possession.

Bryant dribbled through his legs in place several times -- seemingly preparing for a drive to the basket -- but ultimately fumbled the ball and Ross picked it up.

“I switched off with Q and called out the switch and I thought he was about to break me off,” Thornton said. “He started sizing me up, and he was like, ‘Oh, it’s a rook.’ I got kind of nervous, but stayed down.”

“I was nervous, man. I thought it was going to be ESPN top-10.”

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, never one to shower rookies with adulation, complimented Thornton.

“I think they’ve found a rookie that’s pretty aggressive in Thornton,” he said. “Looks like he’s a pretty good shooter and filled in well.”

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Forward Tim Thomas (personal reasons) missed practice and forward Aaron Williams (right calf strain) is day to day.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com