Closs Looking Promising at Center

Keith Closs, the Clippers’ 7-foot-3 rookie center, is never going to be confused with former Clipper center Stanley Roberts.

Closs, signed to an $8.5-million, five-year contract after the Clippers shipped Roberts to the Minnesota Timberwolves last June, weighs only 212 pounds and is so skinny that he has to be encouraged to eat. He has gained 15 pounds in the last two months.

“We’ve got to put some heft on him,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “He does some good things for a willow.”

Fitch, however, is gushing over Closs, who impressed the Clippers after averaging 11.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 blocks for the Lakers’ summer league team.

“He’s holding up good,” Fitch said. “He hustles for a big man. He’s got a lot to learn at both ends of the floor, but he’s a good student.”

Closs, a lifelong Laker fan who wears No. 33 because it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s number, signed with the Clippers because the Lakers were over the salary cap and couldn’t offer as much.

“If I can’t play for [the Lakers], I want to beat them,” Closs said. “Just thinking about [playing the Lakers], I get chills up my spine because my dream was to always play for the Lakers. I think I’ll be wearing a smile that whole game.”

Closs, who also received offers from the Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, said he signed with the Clippers because they gave him a long-term contract.

Closs, undrafted in 1996 after averaging 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in two years at Central Connecticut State, played for the Norwich Neptunes of the Atlantic Basketball Assn. last season.

‘I’m happy with my performance in scrimmages so far,” Closs said. “My goal is to start. I won’t be happy with anything less.”