The Players

BRENT BARRY (Guard)

* No. 31. 6-6, 195. 3rd season

With Malik Sealy gone, Barry must produce to keep the starting position at shooting guard. He averaged only 7.5 points last season after scoring 10.1 in his first season. Barry should be back in double figures this year with increased playing time, but he must play good defense to hold on to his job.

KEITH CLOSS (Center)

* No. 33. 7-3, 212. Rookie

He will try to learn behind Stojko Vrankovic, the starter who is learning himself. It’s a big jump for Closs from Central Connecticut State and the Atlantic Basketball Assn. to the NBA. Coach Bill Fitch isn’t expecting Closs to make much of an impact until the second half of the season.

DARRICK MARTIN (Guard)

* No. 15. 5-11, 170. 4th season

He averaged 10.9 points and shot 40.7% from the field last season. He’ll be the starter at point guard, but if he wishes to hold off the challenge of James Robinson, Martin will have to play tough defense and hand out more than 4.1 assists, his average last season.

LAMOND MURRAY (Forward)

* No. 7. 6-7, 236. 4th season

Murray will get a large share of the playing time at small forward, but if he wants to get as large a share as starter Rodney Rogers, Murray will have to average double figures in points (he averaged 7.4 last season) and do better on the boards (where he averaged 3.1 rebounds).

ERIC PIATKOWSKI (Guard/Forward)

* No. 52. 6-7, 215, 4th season

Piatkowski can shoot, making 45% from the field last season and 42.5% on three-point baskets, but he must show he is a complete player who also can handle the ball and play defense.

POOH RICHARDSON (Guard)

* No. 24. 6-1, 180. 9th season

Averaging 18.1 minutes last season, Richardson had the lowest scoring average of his career at 5.6, the first time he has been in single figures. His playing time may shrink even more with the signing of Robinson.

JAMES ROBINSON (Guard)

* No. 26. 6-2, 180. 5th season

The Clippers have high hopes for Robinson at point guard. They hope he can serve as backup to Martin, supply a scoring punch, increase the tempo of the transition game and play inspiring defense. If Robinson does all that, it is Martin who will be the backup.

RODNEY ROGERS (Forward)

* No. 54. 6-7, 255. 5th season

He will start at small forward as long as he shoots the way he did last season (13.2 points, 46% from the field). It was the highest scoring average of his four-year career. The Clippers like Rogers’ consistency but would like it even more if he could average more than the 5.1 rebounds he did last season.

MAURICE TAYLOR (Forward)

* No. 23. 6-9, 260. rookie

Taylor averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds at Michigan. He doesn’t have the pressure some previous Clipper first-round choices have had to produce instantly because the club’s strength is at forward. Taylor shot only 32.7% in the preseason.

LOY VAUGHT (Forward)

* No. 35. 6-9, 240. 8th season

On a team with many question marks, Fitch can at least take some comfort from the exclamation point he has at power forward. The franchise’s all-time leading rebounder, Vaught averaged 10 last season along with 14.9 points. Needs to improve his ballhandling.

STOJKO VRANKOVIC (Center)

* No. 11. 7-2, 260. 4th season

Vrankovic will need every inch of his frame and more for the tall order he’s being asked to fill. With relatively little experience and an awkward style, Vrankovic must secure the middle.

LORENZEN WRIGHT (Center/Forward)

* No. 55. 6-11, 240. 2nd season

The first-round draft pick had a solid rookie season, averaging 7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and nearly a block a game. So what is Wright’s reward? He is out of the middle with the arrival of Vrankovic and must now serve as Vaught’s backup. But if Vrankovic struggles as expected, look for Wright to still log some time at center.