Season Has Been Reduced to Trade Talk

With the NBA trade deadline only two days away and the chances of the Clippers making a run for the playoffs highly unlikely, point guard Darrick Martin said that players haven’t given up on the season, although Coach Bill Fitch hinted after Monday’s loss to Houston that the team may make some moves.

“Everyone is aware [of Thursday’s trade deadline] but we have to be professional,” Martin said of the Clippers, who have won only three of their last 20 games. “It’s hard because you are sort of in a Catch-22. You know it’s there, but you still have to come in and be professional.”

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Don’t look for either forward Rodney Rogers or guard Brent Barry to return to the lineup until they completely recover from ankle injuries. Rogers, who did not play against the Rockets after suffering an ankle sprain last Friday, and Barry, who injured his right ankle late in the second quarter Monday, are doubtful for Thursday against the Miami Heat.

“We’re not going to rush them back because once we get them back I would like to have the guys all healthy to see if they can play together,” Fitch said. “We’ll have 30 games to get some continuity.”

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The Clippers have lost four consecutive games and Rogers, who has played in all but two games this season, said the team’s inexperience is beginning to show as better teams in the league begin their push for the playoffs.

“[When] you have one or two guys playing and other guys not playing . . . that makes it look like the whole organization is shot,” Rogers said. “Sometimes, guys can’t get into the flow of the things and they get down on themselves instead of just playing through. We’re so young and these kind of things happen.”