Roster Cutdown Possible Today

The Clippers will be forced to cut five names from the 17 on their roster, perhaps as early as today.

The five most likely to depart, barring injury, are veteran forward Rodney McCray, center Rich Manning, and three rookies--center Nate Huffman and guards James Collins and Kiwane Garris.

Coach Bill Fitch has already indicated he wouldn’t hesitate to re-sign McCray, who is bidding to play in his 12th NBA season, should the Clippers need help up front later on.

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Center Keith Closs, absent a week because of his grandmother’s funeral in Connecticut, rejoined the team Monday.

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With the season opener Friday against the Suns at Phoenix, Fitch has cut down to one workout a day, but that doesn’t mean an easy workload, as the players discovered Monday.

After the players spent 2 1/2 hours at a civic kickoff luncheon downtown, Fitch worked them for three hours at their Carson training facility.