Clippers: Wright, a center, is top pick but team insists it expects to retain Williams.

Facing the possible loss of free-agent center Brian Williams, the Clippers selected Memphis center Lorenzen Wright with the seventh pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft.

However, the Clippers maintain that they expect to re-sign Williams, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on Monday, and they didn’t select Wright as an insurance policy if they lose Williams, who averaged a career-high 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.

“Nothing had changed with Brian Williams, we’ll make every effort to re-sign Brian Williams, this only adds to it,” Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said. Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said he plans to employ Wright, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound sophomore, as a reserve at power forward, small forward and center next season.

“He’s not a center,” Fitch said. “Lorenzen is probably between a [power forward, small forward and center]. He’s a runner and he’s a shot blocker. If Williams is back and Stanley [Roberts] is back in total health and [forwards Loy] Vaught and [Rodney] Rogers are ready to go, he’s the backup at all those spots. He’s a very versatile guy.

“There’s a lot of games we played last year where I’d have liked to have had Lorenzen Wright.”

Wright fractured a bone in his right foot at the NBA predraft camp in Chicago earlier this month, but team physician Tony Daly said it’s not a serious injury. Wright, who wore a cast for two weeks, is now wearing a walking boot.

“It’s a real common fracture in basketball players,” Daly said. “It’s nothing to get excited about. In one year [at the NBA predraft camp] in Chicago we had eight players who had that. It’s not disabling. He can start working out in another three weeks and there shouldn’t be any residual effects.”

Wright said the injury won’t set him back.

“I was running six miles and I stepped in a deep hole and my foot twisted and the next time I played my foot hurt,” Wright said. “It’s healing. I just went to the doctor today. All the doctors I’ve been visiting say it’s looking pretty good.”

Wright said he was surprised that the Clippers selected him because they didn’t bring him in for an interview and workout because of his injury.

“I didn’t visit the Clippers, so I really thought they didn’t want me,” Wright said. “I had no idea they were going to pick me. I’m very surprised. I’m very happy.

“I really didn’t know where I was going to go. A bunch of teams had a whole lot of interest in me. I was just sitting back waiting. It seemed like years were going by between each pick.

“When the Clippers chose me I think I was in another room, using the restroom. When I came back in my agent was running to me saying, ‘the Clippers are about to pick you,’ so I had to run and sit in my seat and act surprised.”

Memphis Coach Larry Finch said Wright, who averaged 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds last season, has a good work ethic.

“He’s 6-11 and can run the floor like a deer,” Finch said. “He’s got the quickness of a little guy. He just plays hard all the time. He’s relentless when he goes out onto the floor, This is one of the things that professional teams like about him because he brings a lot of energy to a program. That’s what I loved about having him here.”

Wright needs to bulk up, however, to succeed in the NBA.

“A bunch of the coaches were saying that they wanted me to gain weight,” Wright said. “I’ve gained between 10 and 15 pounds since the season ended and I’ve gotten a whole lot stronger. I think coaches are going to like the new improvement in me.”

The Clippers selected Connecticut guard Doron Sheffer in the second round with the 36th pick.

Sheffer, 6-5, 197 pounds, was the Huskies’ starting point guard for three seasons, averaging 16 points and 6.1 assists last season. Born in Israel, he was the most valuable player of the Israeli Club League in 1992-93.

Clipper Notes

Clipper assistant Bob Ociepka has been interviewed by New Jersey Net Coach John Calipari for a similar position. . . . Asked if the Clippers have a chance to sign free-agent center Shaquille O’Neal of the Orlando Magic, Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor quipped, “We’re about $20 million short.”

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* LORENZEN WRIGHT

A 6-foot-11, 225-pound center, Wright left Memphis after two seasons to enter the NBA draft. He was the first underclassmen to declare for the draft. Wright averaged 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds (16th in the nation) last season. Wright, who played center in college, will be used at small forward, power forward and center by the Clippers.

* DORON SHEFFER

A 6-5, 197-pound point guard, Sheffer started three seasons for Connecticut and in his 102 games the Huskies were 89-13. Born in Israel, he was nicknamed “The Israeli Ice Man” after helping his team win the Israeli National Championship in 1992-93. He was the MVP of the Israeli Club League in 1992-93 while completing a three-year military obligation.