Release of Strong Shows Times Have Changed

Looking for proof this really is a new era for the Clippers? Look no further than Monday’s list of transactions.

The team waived two players, forward Derek Strong and guard Miles Simon, and placed forward Harold Jamison (contusion of the left shin) on the injured list to reach the 12-player limit.

The Strong move raised eyebrows, considering the Clippers still owe the 10-year veteran $8 million, which will now be paid over the next four seasons. In the past, owner Donald Sterling would rather eat crow and keep a player he didn’t need than eat a contract.

But no longer.

“Derek wants to play minutes,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said, “and there are not a whole lot of minutes on this team for him right now.

“But Derek is a good player. I don’t want anybody to think he is not. He will be a good fit for somebody and I think he’ll get picked up and be back in the league by next week.”

Kenton Edelin, Strong’s agent, said he had received a call from one team he declined to name by midday Monday.

Last season, his only one with the Clippers, Strong, 33, appeared in 28 games, averaging 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Simon, who has played only one season in the NBA (1998-99 with the Orlando Magic), spent last year playing in Europe. He had signed with the Clippers before training camp.

The Clippers obtained center Will Perdue, 36, from the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, then immediately waived him.

The Clippers had no intention of keeping Perdue, making the move strictly for salary-cap purposes. In exchange for freeing money up for the Trail Blazers, who are well over the cap, the Clippers received monetary compensation from Portland.

But since the Trail Blazers weren’t allowed to simply give Perdue away, the Clippers made it legal by giving Portland the draft rights to Doron Sheffer, a 1996 second-round draft choice who retired after playing in Israel two years ago.