Benjamin May Sign Contract : Clippers Say Rookie Could Join Team Today

There is a strong possibility that Benoit Benjamin, the Clippers’ first-round draft pick from Creighton, will sign a contract and report to the club’s training camp today, General Manager Carl Scheer said Tuesday.

Scheer, who, with other Clipper executives, left for New York Tuesday for today’s arbitration hearing on last year’s trade for Marques Johnson, said he planned to meet with Larry Fleisher, Benjamin’s agent, Tuesday night and also this morning.

What held up Benjamin’s possible signing Monday was the unavailability of Clipper owner Donald Sterling. Neither Scheer nor Clipper general counsel Arn Tellem could locate Sterling, who was supposed to arrive in New York Monday.

“For all I know, (Sterling) could be in China,” Scheer said. “I do know he’s in New York, but I have to talk to him before proceeding further with Fleisher.”

The Clippers and Fleisher are believed to be talking about a guaranteed multiyear contract for $800,000 a year. Sterling originally didn’t want to go that high.

Scheer also said Tuesday that he is considering trading for an established point guard if free agent Norm Nixon, who is asking for $800,000 a year for four years, doesn’t sign soon.

“You’re damn right I am,” Scheer said. “I’ve had some interest in (San Antonio’s) Johnny Moore, who is a free agent, and I like (Portland’s) Darnell Valentine. But because of the salary cap, we’d have to trade or shift our roster around.”

Scheer said he had talked with Fred Slaughter, Nixon’s agent, Monday but had made no progress.