There is for some on the Clippers' skeleton-crew roster incentive to play out the string with purpose.

Only six -- Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Josh Powell, Brevin Knight, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley -- have guaranteed contracts next season.

Elton Brand and Corey Maggette can opt out of the last year of their contracts and the team has to tender Shaun Livingston a qualifying offer this summer or he can potentially depart.

It all amounts to a lot of potential shifting in the off-season with some using the remaining games to show they can fit into next season's fold.

That includes players such as point guard Dan Dickau and guard Quinton Ross, whose contracts expire at the end of the season. Point guard Smush Parker will also be looking to return as will Nick Fazekas and Paul Davis, recovering from a torn knee ligament.

A lot will depend on this summer's draft and what position the Clippers target with what will be another lottery pick.

Dickau was signed shortly after training camp started as the team's third point guard. But through attrition and injuries he has been given more playing time.

He is averaging 5.2 points and 2.5 assists in nearly 16 minutes per game, his most in four seasons.

"Everybody wants to extend their career and I'd like to be back here next year," he said. "I like living here, my family likes living here, but it's way too early to think about that or worry about that."

Ross, in his fourth season with the Clippers, also said he would like to return.

He is viewed as a defensive specialist, but his offense has not come around this season as he hoped. As a part-time starter, he is scoring 4.2 points per game.

"We haven't discussed [coming back]," Ross said. "I'm just going to play it out. Try to finish this season strong and see where it goes in the off-season."



jonathan.abrams@latimes.com