The Facts

* 1996-97 season: 36-46.

* 1996-97 finish: Fifth in the Pacific Division. Swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Utah Jazz.

* Who’s new: Stojko Vrankovic, Keith Closs, James Robinson, Maurice Taylor.

* Who’s gone: Malik Sealy, Terry Dehere, Bo Outlaw, Stanley Roberts.

* Projected starters: Center-- Vrankovic (3.4 points, 3.2 rebounds); forwards--Loy Vaught (14.9 points, 10 rebounds) and Rodney Rogers (13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds); guards--Darrick Martin (10.9 points, 4.1 assists) and Brent Barry (7.5 points, 2.6 assists).

* Key to the season: The ability of two inexperienced centers, Vrankovic and Closs, to hold their ground in the middle, play some defense, alter the game plans of opposing offenses and keep superstars such as Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon from having blowout games. The Clipper centers will, of course, require plenty of help to accomplish this, but they must at least provide a presence in the middle.

* Outlook: Nobody expects the Clippers to be among the league’s elite teams, but if the center holds firm, if they can consistently play defense, if Martin and Robinson can effectively handle the ball, if nobody gets hurt, and if a few key players on other teams get hurt, the Clippers might sneak back into the playoffs.