Coveted Clippers May Stay in Port

Barring a last-minute deal by today’s NBA trading deadline, power forward Maurice Taylor will finish the season as a Clipper.

“I don’t think I should be hoping something gets done, they should be hoping something gets done,” Taylor said after the Clippers lost their 12th in a row, a 94-78 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night before 17,894 at First Union Center.

“We’ll see what happens. When you look at it, I don’t have anything to worry about because if nothing gets done, I only have eight more weeks.”

Since the first day of training camp, Taylor and his agent David Falk have made it known Taylor will leave the team after the season. They hoped Taylor would be traded to a playoff contender willing to make him one of the NBA’s highest-paid players when he became a free agent this summer.

He hasn’t had an all-star season, but Taylor has displayed his grit even when hurt. Nonetheless, the Clippers are in a familiar position entering tonight’s game at Minnesota. They have the worst record in the NBA at 11-44. Last season, they finished 9-41. In Taylor’s rookie season, they were 17-65.

“[Falk] already told them there’s no possible way I’d re-sign with the team or do a sign-and-trade deal,” said Taylor, who had 18 points and four rebounds against Philadelphia. “I’m not the one who should be panicking.”

Statistically, Taylor is having his best season as a pro. He’s averaging 17 points and six rebounds. His previous best was last season when he averaged 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

“I’m having a career year. I told everyone I want to improve every year and I have,” Taylor said. “As far as a team, this season has been a major disappointment. No one thought we’d be in this predicament when we started training camp.”

Against the 76ers, the Clippers, who have lost 26 of 28 games, showed they need help badly.

Guard Allen Iverson scored 22 points and the 76ers (29-24) had five players score in double figures. Recently acquired forward Toni Kukoc came off the bench to score 18 points and grab a career-high 14 rebounds for Philadelphia, which avenged an earlier loss to the Clippers.

Rookie Lamar Odom directed the Clipper offense for the second consecutive game and had 20 points and nine rebounds. But the Clippers shot 39.7% from the field and were outrebounded, 58-34.

“My Kentucky college team could beat [the Clippers] because we played together,” shooting guard Derek Anderson said.

“The teaching we’re getting now is good but until the players buy into it there’s no unity. You can have Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach or even Naismith here. Until the players buy into it, nothing is going to work.”

Taylor may be the team’s most marketable player but Anderson could also be moved because he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“Coaches talk to me all the time about both players,” Clipper interim Coach Jim Todd said. “They know there is interest in our part. . . . We’d like it to be resolved. Whatever happens, happens.”

It’s not like the Clippers are not trying to get a deal done. They just haven’t been offered quality for the players other teams want.

“I’ve talked to and had conversations with about every team,” said Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations. “A lot of different names have come up for both sides in any deal discussed.”

The Clippers would love to get a player like Detroit’s Jerome Williams or Miami’s P.J. Brown for Taylor, or a shooting guard for Anderson.

“You want to get a deal that benefits both teams,” Baylor said. “We’re always looking to make a deal to improve our team. At this point, nothing is imminent but that doesn’t mean nothing is going to happen.”

Anderson, who had 19 points against the 76ers, didn’t sound like a player who wanted to remain a Clipper much longer.

“I can’t wait to get out of here,” he said. “Same old story. Things are so bad right now.”

Todd has been doing his best trying to keep the Clippers together but with each loss, his job only gets more difficult.