Clippers’ Roberts Deal Might Be Back On Again

Orlando Magic center Stanley Roberts, who had vetoed a three-way trade that would bring him to the Clippers, apparently has softened his stance to where it is believed he will meet with team officials by the end of the week.

The Clippers declined comment, but a source indicated Roberts will travel from Orlando, Fla., to Los Angeles for the visit.

In the three-team trade, agreed to Aug. 28, the Clippers would send Charles Smith, Doc Rivers and Bo Kimble to New York and a first-round pick to Orlando; the Knicks would send Mark Jackson to the Clippers and first- and second-round draft choices to the Magic and Roberts would go to the Clippers.

But Roberts, exercising the right of a restricted free agent, said he would not agree to the deal.

Roberts held firm for about two weeks before the Magic, not wanting to pay $14.4 million over five years for someone to back up Shaquille O’Neal, conceded there would be no trade. The Knicks soon agreed, but became even more determined to land Smith after free agent Xavier McDaniel signed with Boston. A starter with the Clippers his entire four-year pro career, Smith continued to be New York’s No. 1 target.

The Clippers are believed to have had conversations with Houston, now anxious to trade unhappy center Hakeem Olajuwon with training camp three weeks away, but the believed asking price of Danny Manning, Loy Vaught, Rivers and three first-round picks was far too steep.