Cassell goes nowhere yet

Sam Cassell is still a Clipper. And so, for that matter, is everyone else.

The NBA’s trading deadline came and went Thursday with nary a move made by the Clippers.

The Phoenix Suns made a late inquiry regarding Clippers guard Quinton Ross, but no deal was made and no other talks materialized.

That wasn’t for a lack of effort, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor and Coach Mike Dunleavy.

Both called the talks, which went up to the noon deadline, disappointing. “No deals,” Dunleavy said. “There’s no sense in talking about anything now. Nothing happened. It’s hard to know how close anything was or wasn’t.”

Baylor said he envisions the Clippers’ being involved in heavy trade discussions again near the NBA draft in June, when they will be selecting with what is shaping up to be a high lottery selection because of their poor record.

“We were out there until the deadline,” Baylor said of this year’s trade talks. “We tried to do things, make some things, and ultimately, they didn’t work out to our satisfaction.”

Clippers leading scorer Corey Maggette, who has been involved in heavy trade talks the last two years and can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season, was hardly mentioned in talks this year.

Instead, the talk surrounded Cassell.

He is in the last year of his contract and it is extremely unlikely he will re-sign with the Clippers. Cassell, 38, would be a valuable commodity for playoff teams, but he is now in a holding pattern with the deadline passed.

Several teams made inquiries on the veteran point guard, who is earning $6.15 million this season.

“I’m not to the point where I’m frustrated, but it just comes to a point with everybody talking about it and if it happens, it happens,” Cassell said. “I don’t mind playing it out. If I have to play it out, I’ll play it out. We’ll see what happens.”

The next move Cassell could seek is a buyout of his contract, which would essentially be a divorce between him and the Clippers.

Cassell said he would talk to David Falk, his agent, and discuss his options. If he seeks a buyout, it would have to occur by March 1, in order for Cassell to be eligible to be on the roster for a playoff team.

Cassell hit his wrist against a camera on a drive for a layup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday and said he is unsure if he will play tonight against the Utah Jazz. Center Chris Kaman sat out practice Thursday because of a sore right shin.

Dunleavy said the team will begin looking at players to fill its 15th roster spot, most likely via a 10-day contract. “We’ll be looking at guys for sure,” he said.

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TONIGHT

vs. Utah, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 18-33, Jazz 35-19.

Record vs. Jazz -- 0-2.

Update -- The Jazz has sprinted to the top of the Northwest Division, winning nine of its last 10 games and six of seven on the road. Utah beat the Clippers twice in a four-day span last month, winning by an average of 17 points.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com