With Olowokandi Sidelined, Ford Searches for Big Help

Michael Olowokandi’s hip injury is not considered serious, but the Clippers’ second-year center sat out both practices Friday and his absence has magnified the team’s lack of size inside.

Besides Olowokandi, the Clippers have inexperienced third-year 7-footer Keith Closs and 6-10 free-agent rookie Terrell Bell at center. Coach Chris Ford has already given plenty of practice time in the middle to natural power forwards Brian Skinner and Anthony Avent.

“We don’t have enough big people on our roster,” said Ford, who is skeptical the Clippers will be able to address this problem before the start of the regular season.

“If we bring a big man here, we want a good enough player who is a value and can play. To just go out and get a big body, I don’t want to do that. We want to get somebody we can definitely count on to be a player.

“We would like to upgrade, but I don’t know if that’s going to be possible.”

Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, said he has not had any luck making a deal for a big man.

Skinner, who is a solid 6-feet-9 and 255 pounds, is making the most of his chance to play more center.

“I’m going to do whatever I need to do,” said Skinner, who played center in college at Baylor before being drafted with the 22nd overall pick last year. “It’s playing time and I have to try and get the most out of the opportunity. I have to adjust and adapt.”

Skinner, who often rushed scoring opportunities last season, has been physical and a quick learner.

“I’ve learned to slow down a little bit,” said Skinner, who played in only 21 games last season because of injuries.

Ford has been impressed with Closs, who got little playing time last season. He also likes Avent, who is 6-9 and 240, because of his five years of NBA experience. But with Skinner, he’s hoping the Clippers have a dependable backup at both center and power forward.

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Rookie Lamar Odom, who is having an impressive training camp, and second-year pro Tyrone Nesby, who arrived at camp over his playing weight but has trimmed down some this week, are solid defenders. With their athletic ability and range, they give the Clippers’ a great 1-2 punch to guard opposing swingmen. The Clippers are working on becoming more aggressive on defense to create fast-break opportunities and Ford is hoping to use both in the lineup at the same time. . . . A 90-minute workout ended when Derek Anderson suffered a cut near his eye. Anderson and Olowokandi are day-to-day.