Clippers’ Loss Becomes Bulls’ Gain

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch, who could use a center as the Clippers contend for their first playoff berth in four years, expressed no regrets after his center from last season, free agent Brian Williams, signed with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

“Brian Williams is a bridge we went over,” Fitch said. “We didn’t get him, so that’s over.”

The Bulls needed a backup center after putting Bill Wennington on the disabled list. Wennington ruptured a tendon in his left foot during Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Nets.

“It remains to be seen [if he can play well], because I haven’t played a game,” Williams said Wednesday. “If the games are five minutes long, then I’m all-world.”

Said Bull Coach Phil Jackson: “Brian has a ways to go before he’ll be in condition to play basketball. From what he did this morning [at practice Wednesday] he looked great. He has a good shot. He has a nice body. And he can rebound. He can help on the court.”

Williams signed for the rest of the season at a pro-rated NBA minimum of about $30,000 for the next 10 days. He will not be activated until sometime next week so he can learn the team’s system, General Manager Jerry Krause said.

“The addition of Brian Williams gives us a proven NBA rebounder, scorer and defender to help us in our quest for another championship,” Krause said.

Fitch has searched all season for a center to replace Williams, who averaged a career-high 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 33.2 minutes.

Coming off his best season, Williams sought a $101-million, seven-year contract from the Clippers, who offered $12 million for three years.

Offered $35 million for five years by the Seattle SuperSonics, Williams said no thanks and the SuperSonics signed Jim McIlvaine.

Williams later lowered his demand to $36.8 million and the Clippers countered with an offer of $16.8 million for four years.

Dissatisfied with agent Fred Slaughter, who was handling the negotiations, Williams fired Slaughter in December and joined Dwight Manley, who also represents injured Bull forward Dennis Rodman.

Williams also was courted by the Bulls, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, but teams backed off after an MRI exam in Dallas revealed that Williams had undergone knee surgery.

Williams denied published reports that he had been injured while skydiving, claiming that the injury was the one that caused him to miss the final 11 games of last season.

The Bulls signed Williams after giving him a physical examination.

After losing centers Stanley Roberts, Kevin Duckworth and Dwayne Schintzius to injury, the Clippers signed journeyman center Rich Manning to a 10-day contract before Tuesday’s 10-point loss to Miami.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.