Richardson Wants Rodman in L.A.

Clipper guard Pooh Richardson told the San Francisco Chronicle that he would like to see the Clippers acquire forward Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls.

“He [Rodman] would be a player I wouldn’t mind having on my team,” Richardson said. “I could deal with different personalities, but I don’t know if they [Clippers’ management and Coach Bill Fitch] could. I change with the times.”

Richardson said the Clippers don’t want controversial players like Charles Barkley and Rodman.

“If you can’t treat people like men, you can’t have a Rodman, you can’t have a Barkley,” Richardson said. “I think it’s the fear of dealing with a [different] personality.

“When you avoid [outspoken players], you’re always going to have a mediocre team.”

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Dallas Maverick assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who will succeed his father, Don, as coach of the Mavericks in the 2000-01 season, said he can’t replace the NBA’s fourth-winningest active coach.

“It’s impossible to replace a legend like that,” Nelson said. “I’m just going to be myself.”

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Fitch put four players on the court at the start of the second quarter.

But center Keith Closs, late in reporting, finally checked in.