They’re not willing to trade future

Among other thoughts, Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling last month expressed a desire for his team to make a high-quality trade, bringing some light and hope into an otherwise dreary season.

If that doesn’t happen by Thursday’s trading deadline, it won’t be because of a lack of effort, said Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, and Coach Mike Dunleavy.

The Clippers are continuing to make and receive phone calls across the NBA, but Baylor and Dunleavy say they are unwilling to mortgage the team’s future just to make a move.

“We are making every effort to improve the team, but we are not going to do anything that’s not going to improve the team,” Baylor said.

Said Dunleavy later, in echo-like fashion: “We are committed to making a good trade, if we can make one. If there’s something to be made that can help our team, we’ll do that. We are not going to change just for the sake of change.”

If there is a Clipper on the move, all signs point to it being Sam Cassell.

With Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Damon Stoudamire and Earl Boykins all recently finding new teams, the market for the remaining point guards is slim.

Cassell, in the last season of a two-year contract that pays him $6.15 million this season, continues to draw interest from around the league as a veteran guard and playoff-tested player, but no deal was imminent for him as of Tuesday.

Cassell, 38, is averaging 13 points and 4.8 assists in 37 games.

Dunleavy speculated before the rest of the Western Conference decided to play a game of one-upmanship that this would be a busy trading deadline.

“I definitely think the [Pau] Gasol trade shifted things around in everyone’s eyes and that they all went to a short-term horizon,” Dunleavy said Tuesday. “I think in the eyes of the people who made trades, they all made good trades for their needs.”

That full practice thing Monday was short-lived.

Center Chris Kaman came down with a sore right shin and is listed as questionable tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies as the Clippers return from the All-Star break.

Kaman is still trying to regain an offensive rhythm after sitting out five games with flu and dropping about 15 pounds.

“It’s hard because your teammates play a certain way without you and then you get back and they don’t want to change,” Kaman said. “They played pretty well in that stretch. It’s tough coming back from anything when you are out that long.”

Also, Corey Maggette was limited in Tuesday’s practice after banging a knee, but should be available tonight.

Shaun Livingston, rehabbing from knee surgery, performed the same stretching and non-contact drills as Elton Brand did a day earlier.

The Clippers will probably look to fill their remaining roster spot, vacated since the expiration of Guillermo Diaz’s second 10-day contract, by signing a free agent to a 10-day contract after the trading deadline.

TONIGHT

vs. Memphis, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 17-33, Grizzlies 14-39.

Record vs. Grizzlies -- 1-1.

Update -- The Clippers have split two games against the Grizzlies, with both games played in Memphis. The Grizzlies have won only four road games this season, tied for second fewest in the NBA. Rudy Gay averages a team-best 19.9 points.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com