Clippers, Pond Keep Negotiating

An NBA official said Monday that the Clippers have applied to play eight regular-season games at the Pond of Anaheim next season, but Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly said negotiations are still continuing between the team and the company that manages the arena.

Terry Washington, NBA director of media services, said although the Clippers applied to play the same number of games next season that they played in Anaheim this season, the league would probably allow the Clippers to amend the application if they decide to flee the Sports Arena for Anaheim.

The application must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet April 24.

Daly urged the Clippers to move to the Pond, where they’ve drawn better than at the Sports Arena, the NBA’s oldest facility.

“I hear that there are continuing talks between [the] Ogden [Corporation] and the Clippers,” Daly said. “We in Anaheim are very supportive of the endeavor to bring the Clippers to Anaheim and to Orange County. We think the Pond will be a great permanent home for NBA basketball and we think the NBA can be very, very successful in this market for a long time to come.”

The Clippers declined comment.