Kaman Looks at Others’ Deals

The Clippers are waiting on Chris Kaman, hoping the 7-foot center accepts their five-year, $50-million contract offer before the NBA’s Oct. 31 deadline.

If he rejects the offer, Kaman would become a restricted free agent this summer, and the Clippers could match any offer he received from another team.

Kaman and his agent, Rob Pelinka, have declined to discuss how much they are seeking, but sources said the two sides would reach an agreement if the Clippers increased their proposal to $55 million over five years and included about $2.5 million in attainable performance bonuses. The current proposal includes bonuses, but they’re considered difficult for Kaman to earn.

The Clippers might have a little wiggle room but probably not enough to boost the guaranteed portion of the package another $5 million. Even with Kaman on the books at $10 million a season, the Clippers would soon approach the luxury-tax threshold if point guard Shaun Livingston accepted the multiyear extension the team plans to offer him before the 2007-08 season.

With Kaman at $11 million, the Clippers might have to make a trade to avoid paying the tax.

Of course, that’s not Kaman’s problem.

After practice Wednesday, Kaman reaffirmed he wants to remain with the Clippers, but he acknowledged there is a hurdle to completing a deal. Well, actually two. The contracts of center Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyson Chandler of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets are causing problems for the Clippers. Kaman is considered a better all-around player than those two, and he’s coming off a more productive season than either had before they were rewarded with bigger extensions than the Clippers have offered Kaman.

Before last season, Dalembert signed a six-year, $64-million contract and Chandler received a six-year, $63-million deal from his former team, the Chicago Bulls. Dalembert’s contract averages $10.7 million a season and Chandler’s averages $10.5 million.

General Manager Elgin Baylor and Coach Mike Dunleavy persuaded owner Donald T. Sterling, who previously let the market set the worth of the team’s restricted free agents, to take a proactive approach and make a major offer to Kaman. Now, Kaman has the ball and the clock is ticking.

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Rookie forward-center Paul Davis, who impressed in training camp, had four points and seven rebounds in Tuesday’s 107-96 exhibition victory over the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center.

“He played well,” Baylor said. “We like what he’s doing.”

jason.reid@latimes.com