Clippers Don’t Need Manning : Pro basketball: They beat Kings, 121-111. Wilkins, who is expected to play Sunday, says he is bitter about trade.

Danny Manning, who cleaned out his locker Thursday night after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Dominique Wilkins and a conditional draft pick in 1994 or 1995, left a sign on his empty stall: “Peace My Brothers--D”

And peace seems to have returned to the Clippers in the post-Manning era.

“Everybody here loved Danny, he was well liked by all the players and coaches, but it was just a rough situation and it needed to be resolved,” Clipper Coach Bob Weiss said. “It was just something I couldn’t overcome as a coach.”

Playing their first game after the trade, the Clippers took a 19-point first-half lead and held on to beat the Sacramento Kings, 121-111, Friday night before an announced crowd of 8,083 at the Sports Arena.

Clipper rookie forward Harold Ellis, who received a bottle of cologne and tennis shoes from Manning after he cleaned out his locker, also got another gift--more time.

Ellis, who had played 10 minutes in six games since the All-Star break, had 26 points and a season-high seven rebounds in 26 minutes. Ellis, who had 20 first-half points, including 16 in the second quarter, made his first seven shots as the Clippers ended a five-game losing streak.

Center Elmore Spencer scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds to lead the Clippers (18-34).

Mitch Richmond made a team-record eight three-pointers and scored 37 points to lead the Kings (19-35).

Wilkins is due to arrive here today and Weiss moved practice back to 5:30 p.m. so that Wilkins can work out with the team after taking his physical exam.

Wilkins is expected to make his Clipper debut in Sunday’s game against Seattle at the Sports Arena.

Ellis, who idolized Wilkins while growing up in Atlanta, looks forward to meeting him.

“I know it sounds strange, but I’ll actually get a chance to meet Dominique,” Ellis said. “I watched Dominique playing and my best friend is crazy about him.”

Although Wilkins, 34, is seven years older than Manning, who was having the best season of his six-year NBA career, and is shooting a career-low 43.2% this season, the Clippers insist that they made a good trade.

“We exchanged a superstar for a superstar,” forward Loy Vaught said. “Now we just have to learn how Dominique plays and learn how to support him.”

Meanwhile, Wilkins thinks the Hawks mishandled the trade.

“I’m bitter, and a little mad, too,” Wilkins said Friday at a news conference outside his Atlanta-area home. “I felt I helped get this team to this point and then they disrespected me. The bottom line is that we were winning here. I was playing and I was having a good season.”

Wilkins was angry that the Hawks didn’t personally notify him. Wilkins wasn’t home when team executives Pete Babcock and Stan Kasten came to his house. They talked to his wife, who was unable to reach Wilkins on his cellular phone.

Clipper Notes

Danny Manning received a standing ovation before the Hawks’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night at Atlanta. He passed his physical but wasn’t in uniform. “I’m excited about coming to the Atlanta Hawks,” he said. “Dominique was a player here for a long time. He was a legend for the city. I’m not going to try to replace him. I’m just going to go out and play the best I can.” . . . The Clippers will receive Atlanta’s first-round pick in 1994 if the Hawks finish 20th or higher. However, if they finisher lower than 20th and don’t sign Manning, the Clippers would have to compensate the Hawks with a future first-round pick if they opted to take the Hawks’ 1994 first-round pick. The Clippers can elect to take the Hawks’ 1995 first-round pick if Atlanta signs Manning. However, the Clippers won’t get the pick if the Hawks don’t sign Manning. . . . The Clippers signed rookie forward Charles Outlaw to a second 10-day contract before the game.

Clipper guard Ron Harper, whose vocabulary has consisted of “whatever” since he was suspended for making negative statements about the team, maintained his silence after the trade of Manning, his closest friend on the team. Harper had T-shirts printed up for the team with “Say What!” on the front and “Whatever” on the back.