This Time Clippers Deal Him to Heat for Austin

Clipper guard Brent Barry was traded Thursday to the Miami Heat for center Isaac Austin, rookie Charles Smith and a 1998 No. 1 draft choice.

The teams played each other Thursday night at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. Neither Austin nor Barry were expected to play.

Barry, who will be a free agent after the season, had told the Clippers he did not intend to re-sign with them this summer. He is expected to be the third guard in Miami’s rotation behind Tim Hardaway and Voshon Lenard.

Austin also will be a free agent this summer, and Miami feared losing him after this season. Because of salary cap rules, the Heat could offer him no more than the average NBA salary--about $2.8 million.

Austin will be commanding about twice that when he becomes a free agent, and the Clippers will be far enough under the projected $31-$32 million 1998-99 salary cap to be able to meet his price.

“They’re showing me the dedication as having me as a player. That’s all you need,” Austin said. “They’ve traded a good player to get a player, and I think these two months are a feeling-out period for them as well as me.”

Austin, in his fifth NBA season, thrived in a 22-game stretch earlier this season when he started in place of the injured Alonzo Mourning. He was averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 52 games, including 25 starts, after being named most improved player last season.

“We’re just pleased just to have him. He’s got the right attitude, he’s a hard worker . . . like a breath of fresh air to our guys,” Clippers Coach Bill Fitch said.

Smith, a rookie from New Mexico, has spent most of the season on the injured list because of a right leg ailment. He averaged 0.9 points in 11 games.

“I think he has a chance to be a good ballplayer. He plays hard and he’s a good defender,” Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said.

Barry was averaging 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Clippers. He sprained his right ankle Monday night against Houston and had been listed as doubtful for Thursday night’s game.