Clippers at Least Land One Guard

The Clippers’ attempts to pry point guard Andre Miller from the Cleveland Cavaliers failed during Wednesday’s NBA draft, but that doesn’t mean a trade won’t be worked out as soon as today.

Meanwhile, the Clippers said they have all but completed a deal to sign Marko Jaric, a 6-foot-7 point guard from Serbia they drafted 30th overall in 2000. An announcement on a four-season contract is expected to be made in the next day or so. Jaric has been playing for a club team in Italy, averaging 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.

Certainly, the Clippers prompted a good deal of head-scratching Wednesday by drafting two power forwards with the eighth and 12th picks when they already have an all-star at that position in Elton Brand.

Or as Charles Barkley told a national cable television audience after the Clippers selected Chris Wilcox from Maryland with the eighth pick, “They either took that pick for someone else or they’re stupid.”

Moments later, the Clippers took another power forward, Melvin Ely from Fresno State. The Clippers used their second-round pick (41st overall) to select Mario Kasun, a 7-1 center from Croatia whose rights were traded to Orlando.

The Clippers covet a seasoned point guard to replace Jeff McInnis, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next week and probably won’t be re-signed. They’re loaded with talent along the front line, with Brand, center Michael Olowokandi and small forward Lamar Odom. They also have Corey Maggette, a small forward, and Darius Miles (power forward) filling key reserve roles.

It’s possible the Clippers could find another trading partner in the coming days and weeks. The Clippers also spoke Wednesday to the New Orleans Hornets about dealing for Baron Davis. But the Clippers did not wish to give up both first-round picks and Odom for Davis, a former UCLA standout.

“The question came up regarding the guard position,” Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said when asked about selecting Wilcox and Ely. “We’re in the process of signing Marko Jaric, who is considered the best point guard in Europe. We also have Keyon Dooling. So, we’ll have a lot of people at every position.”

Only five can play at one time, however.

“We talked to them and it just didn’t work out,” Baylor said of attempting to trade for Cleveland’s Miller, who averaged a league-leading 10.9 assists and 16.5 points last season. “We tried to talk and we just couldn’t come to an agreement about which players would be involved.”

Asked if the deal was dead, Baylor said, “That I don’t know. There will be more talks I’m sure and we’re going to keep the lines [of communication] open.”

For the moment, Wilcox and Ely can hang onto the Clipper caps they donned when their names were announced at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“It’s a surprise,” Wilcox acknowledged when asked about being selected by the Clippers. “I never thought I would be out in L.A., but I’m happy I have a chance to go out to L.A. and, hopefully, I can make the best of that situation. Hopefully, I’ll get some playing time, but if not, I’ll have to work my way into the rotation.”

Ely also wasn’t expecting to be selected by the Clippers.

“When they picked me, I thought somebody was playing with me,” he said. “I went to Fresno State and traveled to L.A. a lot. I’m so happy I can stay on the West Coast. It’s been good to me.”

Of the logjam at power forward, Ely said, “I’m the type of player that is going to go out and give whatever team I’m with 110%. I know Quentin Richardson. I played high school ball with him. I played with Corey Maggette and also with Lamar Odom and Elton Brand. I know all those guys and I hope they’ll help me with this transition.

“If I am traded, I’ll give any team I’m with my all.”

Wilcox and Ely are each listed at 6-10 and, under different circumstances, would be considered excellent picks.

As a sophomore, Wilcox helped Maryland to the NCAA championship last season, averaging 12 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots. Ely, 24, was named Western Athletic Conference player of the year in his junior and senior seasons. He averaged a conference-leading 23.3 points in 2001-02.

“We’re going to be good,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “It would be great to have a great point guard, but everything is not over. I still think there is a possibility [of a trade]. We have to wait and see what happens.... I still think we’re going to explore all avenues to make our team better. We’re not going to shut it down. We have a lot of assets and we have flexibility.”

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The Clippers tendered qualifying offers for 2002-03 to Olowokandi and backup forward Tremaine Fowlkes.... The team said it has sold 1,500 new season-ticket packages. The Clippers had 12,500 season-ticket holders last season.