Clippers Deal Nimphius for 2 Draft Picks

The Clippers traded Kurt Nimphius, a reserve forward-center, to the Detroit Pistons Thursday for the Pistons’ No. 1 and 2 draft picks in June.

Nimphius, 28, a 6-11, 225-pound journeyman, was a major disappointment for the Clippers this season. He was averaging 7.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 38 games. He started in place of injured center Benoit Benjamin Wednesday night against New Jersey and had 3 points, 6 rebounds and 5 fouls.

Although Clipper officials deny that they’ve given up on this season--the Clippers have a 6-36 record, worst in the National Basketball Assn.--the move appears to be an indication that they have done exactly that and are looking to the future.

“We haven’t written off this season, but you’ve got to be realistic,” Clipper President Alan Rothenberg said. “We’re not going to win the championship this season and it would take a major miracle for us to make the playoffs.

“It’s not like we’re giving up a starter. We’re not giving up anything of consequence. We’re trading players who were coming off the bench.

“I think we’re going to build one heck of a team.”

The Nimphius trade is the second major deal that the Clippers have completed within the last two weeks. They sent forward Cedric Maxwell to Houston Jan. 16 for two draft picks--a No. 1 this year and a No. 2 in 1989.

They will have five No. 1 picks over the next two seasons, three of them in the next draft.

For now, however, the Clippers are down to 10 players going into tonight’s game against San Antonio, and are scouting the Continental Basketball Assn. for help.

Nimphius, who is expected to join the Pistons Saturday night in New York for a game against the Knicks, wasn’t available for comment. He is in his sixth season in the NBA and will fill in for Detroit center-forward Rick Mahorn, who is out with a lower back injury.