Clippers Give Agent OK to Speak With Other Teams About Manning

The Clippers, admitting chances of re-signing Danny Manning are slim, have opened trade talks about their star forward and given agent Ron Grinker permission to discuss deals with other teams.

Grinker said he has had a preliminary conversation with a team but declined to say which one. The Clippers have also spoken with other organizations.

“I can tell you this,” Grinker said. “They have granted other teams permission to talk to me. . . . That means to me they are actively pursuing something, which is fine. That’s their prerogative.”

The unusual step of involving an agent in trade talks is because Manning will be an unrestricted free agent after next season, and interested teams want to gauge the chance of retaining him before making a deal. Grinker is not expected to give assurances on the future, meaning the Clippers could have trouble making a move unless they are willing to take less value in return.

“You ask if this is an indication that we want to trade him?” General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “It is an indication that we’re looking at options, that we want to see what’s out there if we want to talk to other teams. That doesn’t mean we’re going to do anything.”

The trading deadline is Feb. 25.