Murray: Agent Still Important

Ray Allen may not have needed an agent to negotiate a six-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season but upcoming free agents such as Clipper forward Lamond Murray have a different position.

“It’s still important to me in terms of having an agent,” said Murray, who had 14 points off the bench in the Clippers’ victory at Portland on Sunday. “[I’ll need] a middle man so I don’t have to go in myself and talk with the owners and negotiate my own deal.”

Murray, expected to have an all-star year, has struggled and been replaced as a starter.

Only recently as a reserve has Murray’s shooting stroke returned. He has been averaging nearly 14 points per game, second only to Maurice Taylor.

“It’s important for those guys who don’t have a pretty much set future,” Murray said. “If you’re a franchise player you might as well let your agent go, if you’re not [considered a franchise player], you need an agent.

“Big guys like [the Lakers’] Shaq [O’Neal] or Ray Allen, they can get away with that. They know the maximum they can get. But that’s not the case with a player like me.”

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Backup point guard Troy Hudson’s second 10-day contract expired Monday and he did not practice. The Clippers are interested in signing him for the final 14 games of the season.

TONIGHT vs. New Jersey

7:30, Channel 9

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--Clippers 5-31; Nets 10-26.

* Record vs. Nets--(1997-98) 1-1.

* Update--The Clippers will be seeking their third win in four games after upsetting Portland on Sunday. New Jersey has won three of its last four games.

* Tickets--(213) 745-0500.