Walton Remains a Clipper, but Trade Talk Continues

The free-agent clause in Bill Walton’s contract ran out Wednesday, meaning he is once again bound to his four-year contract with the Clippers.

But there still is a possibility that the Clippers will trade Walton to the Boston Celtics for power forward Cedric Maxwell. The Boston Globe, quoting unnamed sources, has reported that the Celtics and Clippers have agreed in principle to a trade but that contract concessions and restructuring must be worked out before the deal can be consummated.

Most of the restructuring involves Maxwell’s $800,000 contract. The Clippers did not want to be saddled with the big contract, because free agent Norm Nixon and first-round draft choice Benoit Benjamin haven’t been signed.

Carl Scheer, the Clippers’ general manager, denied Wednesday that any deal has been made with the Celtics. He said he talked with Jan Volk, the Celtic general manager, as late as Monday but that the sides were still far apart.

However, Scheer confirmed that the Clippers have asked for one of the Celtics’ two first-round draft choices next season, in addition to Maxwell. The Celtics own Seattle’s first-round pick, from the Gerald Henderson trade, as well as their own first-round pick.

Originally, the Celtic management balked at the proposal, but it has since reconsidered.

“We asked for a first-round pick--it was their option which one,” Scheer said. “As of right now, there is no deal. The (Globe) story is absolutely false.”

Scheer, however, reiterated that the Clippers will trade Walton if the conditions are acceptable.