Ex-Clipper Smith Is Given an Offer

Free-agent guard Derek Smith of the Clippers presented a signed offer sheet from the Sacramento Kings to the Clippers Thursday.

The five-year deal calls for more than $4.7 million, with most of the money guaranteed, Smith said.

The Clippers will have 15 days to match the offer or lose Smith, their leading scorer two seasons ago. Smith sat out most of last season with a knee injury and recurring mononucleosis.

The Clippers also said they had received an offer sheet from the Kings on free-agent point guard Franklin Edwards. Edwards’ offer is for a two-year guaranteed contract for close to $1 million, sources said.

Both Smith and Edwards are represented by agent Ron Grinker.

Said Smith in an interview from his hotel room near Los Angeles International Airport: “I’m going back home (to Louisville). I’m not going to sit here and wait. But in my mind it’s already been resolved. I will be a Sacramento King next year. I’m going home to prepare for the move to Sacramento next year. I will not play for the Clippers next year.”

Asked if he thought the Clippers would try to match the offer sheet, Smith said: “I think they’re going to try to match it because they need players. It would be stupid not to match it. But the Clippers are a stupid organization and I pray that they let me go outright free.

“They know my feeling and I’m definitely not going to play here. I feel they can help their ball club by getting someone from Sacramento. If not, I won’t play basketball this season.

“I’m really excited. It’s something I never expected, not even in my wildest dreams. It’s very gratifying to know that if you put your mind to something and work as hard as I’ve worked you can do something. I wasn’t a superstar. I had to come up the hard route to get to this level.”

Asked if the Clippers would match the offers, Arn Tellem, the club’s vice president and general counsel said: “I received (the offer sheets) this morning and I’m reviewing them. We’re taking it day by day.”

Elgin Baylor, the Clippers’ executive vice president and director of basketball operations, said in a prepared statement: “We have received an offer sheet from the Sacramento Kings on Derek Smith. Our team physicians will be examining him over the course of the next few days.

“We won’t make a decision on his status until we have received the results of the medical examinations.

“We will resolve Franklin’s situation after we have received the medical results on Derek Smith.”

Last season, Smith, a four-year pro from the University of Louisville, played in just 11 games after suffering torn cartilage in his left knee and then contracting a rare form of mononucleosis.

Smith, 24, averaged 27.1 points and was leading the Clippers in scoring last season before he was hurt. He was third in the NBA in scoring at the time of his injury. He had averaged a career-high 22.1 points in the 1984-85 season.

Smith said that he was given a physical examination Thursday by Dr. Richard Lewis, an expert in infectious diseases, and that he would be examined again this morning by Dr. Tony Daly, the Clippers’ orthopedic surgeon.

“I was examined today, and all is well with the mono,” Smith said. “Tomorrow, I’ll be examined by Dr. Daly. I don’t have a clue why they want to examine me. I’ve been examined at least 100 times the last six months. But they have that option and they used it. I don’t mind it. I don’t have anything to hide.”

Tellem said that the Clippers had not received the results of the examination.

Edwards, 6-1 and 170, had one of the best seasons of his three-year career, starting the first 17 games of the season at point guard during Norm Nixon’s holdout.

Edwards averaged 14.9 points and 7.2 assists as a starter. He finished the season by hitting career highs for field goals, free throws, rebounds, assists and minutes.

“Everything is resolved. I’m just happy to have everything over with,” Edwards said. “I’m ecstatic about it. It’s a great situation up there (Sacramento). It’s just another example of the Clippers dragging their feet through the mud and not wanting to get anything done. But that’s nothing new with that organization.

“I would not be surprised if they tried to match it (the offer) with the situation at the guard spot. But I’m hoping they don’t. Last year I was promised a lot of things but none of them occurred. I don’t want to be in that type of an organization.

“It’s just a crazy situation. The job of professional basketball is hard enough. I don’t think they know exactly what they’re going to do.”

Joe Axelson, Sacramento’s president and general manager, would not comment on the figures involved in Smith’s offer sheet but said: “Nobody’s going to be holding a charity bazaar for Derek Smith.”

Late Wednesday night, the Clippers announced that free-agent forward Rory White had agreed to terms.

White, who was coming off his best season, had threatened to play in Italy next season.

White, a four-year NBA veteran, averaged 11.7 points last season.