Clippers, Manning Were Close : Pro basketball: They nearly struck deal worth $25 million, but late changes apparently stalled negotiations.

The Clippers and Danny Manning came close this week to signing a five-year, $25-million contract before a late snag drove them apart again, it was learned Saturday.

Although the specifics of the deal are not known, the average of $5 million annually would have made Manning the NBA’s fourth-highest-paid player over the five years, behind only David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal. Manning made $2.6 million in 1992-93 as the final installment to a five-year, $10.5-million contract he signed out of college.

“It was a very, very generous and fair offer they should not be ashamed of,” said Ron Grinker, Manning’s agent. “But as I’ve said many times before, this will not be decided on a dollars-and-cents issue.”

Grinker, reaffirming that Manning plans to accept a one-year, $3.25-million qualifying offer from the Clippers on July 1 in anticipation of becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, declined to discuss specifics of why the talks broke down.

But, while again noting his positive relationship with General Manager Elgin Baylor and Executive Vice President Harley Frankel, he intimated the Clippers tried to make several late changes to the deal and that dealings with owner Donald T. Sterling, though in Europe, continue to cause problems.

Baylor could not be reached for comment.

The talks, which included negotiations late into the night last Monday and a visit by Grinker to Los Angeles on Thursday, are believed to represent the first offer by the Clippers since Manning initially signed with the team for the 1988-89 season. Despite the outcome, the Clippers apparently remain hopeful something can be worked out because team officials have not granted any other club permission to talk to Grinker, the first step toward setting up a trade.