Clippers’ Downward Spiral Gains Speed : Basketball: Los Angeles’ sixth loss in a row, 111-103 to Charlotte, has team officials talking about making a trade for an ‘impact’ player.

The bad ship Clipper took on more water Saturday night in a 111-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, but not to worry. Some of the dead weight might be leaving soon.

As the Clippers continue to sink into the playoff sunset, the feeling in the front office is growing toward a trade. It might not happen, but there is little question that most in position to make a move would like to see it done, particularly in light of losses to all four expansion teams in 3 1/2 weeks.

“We’re definitely pursuing trade talks as one possibility,” said one team official, requesting anonymity. “But that is not seen as the cure-all, either. We are looking forward to Ron Harper’s return and are hoping that will have a major impact on the offensive setup. And we’re not going to do anything hasty, that’s for sure.”

But the Clippers would like to do something. The same source said the names being discussed, coming and going, are “impact” players, not players to add depth. He would not be specific but said, “The strategy is to deal for a front-line player.”

The Clippers, who have three first-round draft choices the next two seasons as dealable assets, have been linked most recently to Isiah Thomas of the Pistons. General Manager Elgin Baylor insists the rumored discussions of Thomas coming to Los Angeles for Danny Manning and a No. 1 are inaccurate, but not because the Clippers wouldn’t love to have him.

“I’ve been talking to (Detroit General Manager) Jack McCloskey about Isiah Thomas for five years--at league meetings, on the phone, a lot,” Baylor said. “But Isiah is a fixture there, and they don’t intend to move him.”

Other names have clearly caught the Clippers’ attention. Baylor is normally close to the vest on such talks, but he hasn’t been this outspoken about making a deal since training camp last season. A few weeks later, Reggie Williams and the rights to Danny Ferry were sent to Cleveland for Harper and draft picks.

And now?

“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation when asked if trades involving major names were being pursued. “I’ve been doing this for some time. Not only because of the losing streak, but when we were around .500.”

But the fact that the Clippers have dropped six in a row, 11 of 12 and 13 of 15 doesn’t make pushing forward with a major deal any less imperative.

“I will say this,” said Baylor, cautioning that nothing is imminent or guaranteed, “I have wanted to do something even before we were this far below .500. I was trying to make deals then. Certainly I’m concerned now. If you say am I probably working more to get something done? I always try hard. But am I trying harder? Probably.”

The Clippers have quickly been transformed from the team of the ‘90s to an 11-21 club that could reach the all-star break with 13 or 14 victories. You think the Sports Arena looked empty before?

Until any trade, until Harper returns from reconstructive knee surgery at the end of January or beginning of February, what remains is a team that would now be content to tread water.

Saturday, against short-handed and last-place Charlotte, the Clippers trailed by 10 as late as 94-84, nearly caught up at 101-100, and then went under.

They were outscored, 10-3, the final 1:48, the Clippers’ only points coming on Jeff Martin’s rebound layin and a free throw that accounted for the last of Charles Smith’s team-high 25 points.

J.R. Reid also had 25 for the Hornets, supported by 22 each from Johnny Newman and Rex Chapman, and 13 points and 15 assists (against only one turnover) from Muggsy Bogues.

Charlotte never trailed after 4-2 and never allowed the Clippers to tie after 35-35.

Clipper Notes

Mike Gminski, acquired by Charlotte Friday in a deal that sent Armon Gilliam and Dave Hoppen to Philadelphia, did not dress because he arrived too late for a physical. That meant the Hornets went without their former leading rebounder, Gilliam, and their starting center-to-be, Gminski, and still only were outrebounded, 54-50. Benoit Benjamin had 15 of the Clippers’ rebounds, to go with his 19 points and four blocked shots. J.R. Reid and Muggsy Bogues, the 5-foot-3 point guard, had seven rebounds each for Charlotte.