Olowokandi Set to Play in Italian League --With Escape Clause

Michael Olowokandi, the No. 1 pick of last year’s NBA draft by the Clippers, will play in Italy for Kinder Bologna if a deal is completed today.

Olowokandi, a 7-foot center from Nigeria who played collegiately at Pacific, and his agent Bill Duffy spent Sunday in Washington D.C. trying to get Olowokandi’s passport cleared. Olowokandi has to be signed by today to beat the Italian League deadline.

If Olowokandi is granted a work visa in time, he’ll join Kinder Bologna--the defending European and Italian League champion--immediately with an escape clause that allows him to return Feb. 15 and play with the Clippers if the NBA lockout ends.

“If the NBA season is resumed, he’ll be able to come back and play but if the season is cancelled, he’ll stay in Italy,” Duffy said. “It’ll be his option to stay with [Kinder Bologna] for the rest of the season.”

Olowokandi will reportedly earn $1 million for playing up to Feb. 15. If he plays the rest of the season, he’ll be paid another $2 million.

Kinder Bologna already has a center in Rasho Nesterovic, who was drafted in the first round by Minnesota last year. He played in Italy last season and can’t join the Timberwolves until the end of Kinder Bologna’s season.

If the NBA does have a season and Olowokandi returns to the Clippers, part of his deal with Kinder Bologna calls for former California center Sean Marks to replace him on the roster.