Dehere Is Here, Grant Is Gone

The other shoe dropped Thursday for Gary Grant, who became an unrestricted free agent when the Clippers decided not to give him a qualifying offer.

That developed a day after Seton Hall’s Terry Dehere was drafted and all but plugged into Grant’s spot as the Clippers’ third guard and top defensive stopper in the backcourt. Grant was set free about 14 hours later.

The Clippers would have had to offer Grant, an occasional starter during his five years with the team, a one-year deal worth $1.47 million to retain the right of first refusal as a restricted free agent. But, seeking flexibility under the salary cap, they decided not to, though pursuing him in the open market remains an option.

“They were obviously pretty happy they picked this guy (Dehere),” Grant said. “I watched him play in college, and he is an average college player. As far as him being able to come in and do the same things I do, there is no comparison at all. I’ve stopped NBA guards for five years, and he hasn’t stopped anybody in the NBA. I don’t think this was a wise thing for them to do.”

The decision is a gamble for the Clippers, who, should they lose Grant, would have only two proven guards--starters Mark Jackson and Ron Harper. And Harper has only one year left on his contract.

Grant, the Clipper record-holder for assists in a career, said he hopes to talk with the Lakers and New York Knicks, teams looking to get better at point guard.

While saying he preferred to stay in the NBA, the former first-round draft pick also said Europe was a possibility. His agent, former Laker and Clipper guard Norm Nixon, ended his career with a half-season in Italy.

Other events involving the Clippers on Thursday were more predictable. Danny Manning and his agent, Ron Grinker, had been saying for years that they would show up at the Sports Arena at the start of the work day to sign the one-year qualifying offer of $3.25 million.

“I think (General Manager) Elgin Baylor and Harley Frankel (executive vice president) were really taken aback by this and were sentimental toward Danny Manning the person, as well as the player,” Grinker said. “I think Andy Roeser (executive vice president for business), in his own way, was shocked to know he blew the deal that we almost completed last week.”

Roeser declined comment. Baylor and Frankel did not return phone calls.

The Clippers would have preferred that Manning take their five-year, $25-million offer the sides came close to agreeing on last week. They even would have preferred he go into the market as a restricted free agent and then get an offer sheet.

But Manning and Grinker took that option away by signing the one-year deal for the automatic 25%--$650,000--raise. They didn’t want to get an offer sheet, no matter how lucrative, because the Clippers would immediately match anything and then retain his rights for another five or six years. This way, they might have their best player only until July 1, 1994, when he can leave without the right of first refusal.

The bottom line is the Clippers are dealing from a position of weakness, though the territory should look familiar. Manning’s situation is a repeat of the route Charles Smith took a year ago. That resulted in him forcing a trade to New York.

Grinker said Manning came close to being traded during the draft.

Said Manning, who had agreed to take a $500,000 pay cut to be traded: “Not close enough.”

Any notion of the olive branch Manning offered just after the playoffs is gone. He says he hopes he is, too.

“The good feelings were because of my teammates and my relationship with Elgin and my relationship with Harley and how much I enjoy Los Angeles,” said Manning, who again emphasized the factors in turning down the $25 million had nothing to do with money. “I thought we had good players and the potential. All the pieces were there. It seems to me that all that has to be done is for us to keep things going in that direction and get some continuity. And I don’t get the feeling that can happen here.

“It’s just frustrating at times to sit around with other guys from around the league and hear them talk about their teams and everything they are doing to get better, and I won’t say anything. They say to me, ‘What about you guys?’ and then say something like, ‘Oh, that’s right, you’re with the Clippers.’ It gets to the point where you get tired of that.”

The Clippers’ third free agent of note, Ken Norman, automatically became unrestricted. He has not ruled out returning.