Richardson Latest to Express Displeasure

While the Clippers continue to lose, changes are being made among the ranks. On Thursday, veteran shooting guard James Robinson was waived as the team reached a settlement for the final three years left on his contract that would have earned him over $2.1 million a season.

On Friday, the team put Pooh Richardson on the injured list for the second time this year because of an aggravated left ankle injury, but the veteran point guard is not happy.

“I feel that I should be playing, I feel that I earned the right to play,” Richardson said. “I came to training camp ready. I was prepared and I did everything that was asked of me. But I can’t see any playing time. No one has explained to me why or told me why. I figure that in my best interest it would be better for me to move on.

“I don’t know if [playing for the Clippers] is the best situation me. The way it looks, no. I guess all I can do is wait to see what happens.”

The Clippers may be in a tough spot at point guard because Sherman Douglas played Friday and it was obvious that he is hurt.

“It’s terrible,” Douglas said about his nagging groin injury. “I fought through it tonight but I don’t think I can do it any more. It’s a bad situation. I’ve played too much on it. It’s really a muscle pull, muscle tear kind of thing.”

When asked if he’d be able to play Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Douglas said: “I doubt it. I seriously doubt it. I’m not jeopardizing myself to go out there and play hurt. I see moves that I should be making but I can’t make right now.”

If Douglas is forced to sit out more games to rest his injury, Coach Chris Ford has some decisions to make because Richardson has to remain on the injured list for at least four more games.

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Richardson said that Robinson, whose playing time had been cut dramatically since the first week of March, wanted to leave.

“He told some of the guys on the team that it wasn’t anything personal against them,” Richardson said. “He just wanted out so bad that he’d do whatever possible to leave. . . . He’s been in the for six years and he felt that it was crucial at this point of his career that he had a chance to prove that he could still play.”

Ford said that Robinson didn’t fit in his plans for the future. Which is why Robinson was happy to be granted his release.

“It was in the best interest of both parties,” said Robinson’s agent Dan Fegan.