CLIPPERS : Edwards’ Signing Reduces Holdout List to Two

The Clippers broke camp Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s exhibition opener at Chicago, with an addition awaiting them during the overnight stopover in Los Angeles.

James Edwards, the veteran center acquired in mid-August but not satisfied until late Tuesday night, signed his slightly amended contract Wednesday at the Sports Arena. He is expected on this morning’s charter flight to Illinois, where the Clippers will play the Bulls Friday night and the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday at Peoria.

Edwards said he was “pretty happy” with the deal, which ended a five-day holdout. Edwards had a three-year, $4.5-million contract awaiting in Italy if he had cleared waivers instead of being traded to the Clippers from the Detroit Pistons.

With new deals for Charles Smith and Olden Polynice atop the priority list, the Clippers had said they would not give Edwards an extension until they saw how he fit in with the team. Edwards’ one-year extension, at $1 million, is a Clipper option, one they probably will not need to exercise until after the 1992 draft. Edwards’ counter is a buyout clause, at about the same time, in case of a lucrative deal in Europe.

But the most meaningful adjustment to his contract, which enters its final season at $933,000, is that a $233,000 deferment due in six years will be paid this season. The money is worth more now, but the Clippers don’t get hurt under the salary cap and don’t offend Polynice, the starting center who already earns about $200,000 less than his projected backup.

The remaining Clipper holdouts are Doc Rivers and rookie LeRon Ellis. While team officials are digging in for what could be a protracted disagreement with Rivers, who walked out after the first day of camp because of a failure to get a $4-million season added to his contract that still has four years remaining, Ellis is expected to make a decision soon.

His options are to sign with a team in Europe, where most seasons have started, or sign with the Clippers for $180,000. The Clippers said their offer of a guaranteed contract will be withdrawn today.

Also Wednesday, the Clippers announced they will sign veteran guard Rory Sparrow to a free-agent contract, pending his passing a physical. The 12th-year player, insurance against Bo Kimble (foot injury) or Rivers not being ready for the Nov. 1 season opener at Sacramento, has played with six teams in the NBA and was with the Kings last season.