NBA DRAFT : Clippers Hope This Shortcut Is Right Way : Pro basketball: They give up No. 2 pick McDyess to get Rodney Rogers and No. 15 pick Brent Barry from Nuggets.

In one of the most controversial moves in their controversial history, the Clippers traded the draft rights to Alabama forward Antonio McDyess, the second pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, and guard Randy Woods to the Denver Nuggets for forward Rodney Rogers and the draft rights to Oregon State guard Brent Barry, the 15th pick.

As part of the deal, the Clippers will acquire center/forward Brian Williams from the Nuggets for enigmatic center Elmore Spencer. But because of salary-cap considerations, it can’t be announced until after the NBA collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

Although the Clippers passed up a chance to get McDyess, who was compared by Coach Bill Fitch to Karl Malone and Otis Thorpe, Fitch maintains that they made a good deal.

“I know it’s tough for you guys to understand, but when you win 17 games, you don’t ever want to go through that again,” Fitch said. “You can’t always take the most popular route, so you start looking for shortcuts that will stand the test of time. In other words, you’ve got to get two bodies instead of one out of the draft if you can.

“If you drafted according to what you read or what the reports were or what the fans wanted you to do, we’d still be out there on the first two draft picks because we would be afraid to make a move. I think we made as good a move as we could with all we had to work with.

“The only way we miss on this is if Rogers and any players involved that we picked up today can’t play, but Rogers already has a proven track record. There have been guys taken No. 1 and No. 2 in this league that never had a shower after a ballgame in their whole career.”

The ninth player selected in the 1993 draft, Rogers averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and two assists last season.

Fitch plans to use Rogers, 6-7 and 255 pounds, at both forward spots.

“He’s about ready to blossom,” Fitch said. “Pete Newell, who’s one of my best friends, has had Rogers in his [big man’s camp] every summer and he says of all the guys, he’s one of the most hard working. He’s a guy who’s getting better and better.”

Rogers said he was stunned by the trade.

“I’m surprised because I had no way of knowing what was going on, so I could prepare for it,” Rogers said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m a Clipper now.”

Barry, the son of former NBA star Rick Barry and younger brother of Milwaukee Buck guard Jon Barry, averaged 21 points last season.

Although Barry, 6-6 and 185 pounds, played shooting guard and small forward at Oregon State, Fitch says Barry’s NBA future is at point guard.

“Brent is probably the most versatile player,” Fitch said. “He’s a man without a real true position. He played shooting guard and small forward in college, and we drafted him with the idea that we don’t need him right away. In a two- or three-year period, we’d like to see him playing the point.”

Barry said he was surprised by the trade because the Clippers didn’t invite him for a workout.

“Coach Fitch says I’ve got to start guarding little guys,” Barry said. “I guess they’re pointing me toward the point guard position.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers selected Constantin Popa, a 7-3 center from Miami, with the 53rd pick in the second round. Born in Romania, Popa averaged 11.6 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots last season. . . . The Clippers tendered qualifying offers to forward Charles Outlaw and center Eric Riley, thus making them restricted free agents and giving the club the right of first refusal. Outlaw received an offer of $312,500 and Riley received an offer of 250,000. . . . General Manager Elgin Baylor lost his voice because he spent so much time talking on the phone trying to arrange the deal with the Nuggets, which was completed late Wednesday morning.

* CHILD’S PLAY: The first five picks and 10 of the 29 first-rounders didn’t play four years of college ball. C4

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The First 10

NO. TEAM PLAYER P HT. WT. SCHOOL 1. Golden State Joe Smith F 6-10 225 Maryland 2. Clippers* Antonio McDyess F 6-9 220 Alabama 3. Philadelphia Jerry Stackhouse G 6-6 218 North Carolina 4. Washington Rasheed Wallace F 6-10 225 North Carolina 5. Minnesota Kevin Garnett F 6-10 220 Farragut HS 6. Vancouver Bryant Reeves C 7-0 292 Oklahoma St. 7. Toronto Damon Stoudamire G 5-10 171 Arizona 8. Portland** Shawn Respert G 6-3 195 Michigan St. 9. New Jersey Ed O’Bannon F 6-8 217 UCLA 10. Miami Kurt Thomas F 6-9 230 Texas Christian

* Traded rights to McDyess to Denver.

** Traded rights to Respert to Milwaukee.

The first-round draft picks for the Clippers the last 10 years:

Year: Player

1985: Benoit Benjamin

1986: No selection

1987: Reggie Williams

1987: Joe Wolf

1987: Ken Norman

1988: Danny Manning

1988: Hersey Hawkins

1989: Danny Ferry

1990: Bo Kimble

1990: Loy Vaught

1991: LeRon Ellis

1992: Randy Woods

1992: Elmore Spencer

1993: Terry Dehere

1994: Lamond Murray

1994: Greg Minor

1995: Antonio McDyess

* 1988--In a three-team trade, traded Michael Cage and the rights to Hawkins for Gary Grant (from Seattle) and Charles Smith (Philadelphia).

* 1989--Traded Reggie Williams and the rights to Ferry to Cleveland for Ron Harper and three draft picks.

* 1994--Traded Mark Jackson and the rights to Minor to Indiana for Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy and the rights to Eric Piatkowski.

* 1995--Traded Randy Woods and the rights to McDyess to Denver for Rodney Rogers and the rights to Brent Barry.