Concern Is Contract Fallout

Eric Piatkowski is concerned.

Can you blame him?

He has always been a Clipper. He knows this could be the best of the nine Clipper teams of which he has been a part, and he understands what’s at stake for the franchise and for the players and the coaching staff.

A good season could get the Clippers into the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97. A great season could get them deep into the postseason for the first time since the club was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1970.

Piatkowski believes it all depends on the Clipper players, and that’s what worries him. The team failed to resolve a number of contract matters during the off-season, including a new deal for center Michael Olowokandi and a long-term extension for forward Elton Brand. Olowokandi and Brand need new contracts for 2003-04, and so do Piatkowski, Andre Miller, Corey Maggette and Lamar Odom.

Piatkowski believes uncertainty over their contracts could lead to selfish play if some players decide to pad their statistics in an attempt to drive up their individual values for negotiations next summer.

“If we play together, we’re going to be good,” he said Saturday. “If we don’t, it’s going to be a long, frustrating season. I’m hoping with Andre out there [as the team’s new point guard] that he runs everything nice and smooth. We’ll see what happens starting Wednesday.”

The Clippers begin the regular season Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center. Piatkowski is expected to lose his starting spot as the team’s shooting guard, trading places with former sixth man Quentin Richardson.

“I’m worried,” Piatkowski said when asked about the team’s state of mind. “I wish they had gotten at least a couple of deals done over the summer.”

From what he has seen during training camp and in eight exhibitions, Piatkowski believes Miller will keep the Clippers playing like a team. The Clippers acquired Miller, the NBA’s assist leader last season, from Cleveland during the off-season.

“I think if we put the ball in his hands when the game is tight,” Piatkowski said of Miller, “he’s going to find a way to get it done.

“I think Elton is going to play the right way. He’s going to get his rebounds and a lot of his points come off rebounds.... But there are a couple of other guys I’m worried about.... You need guys who are great team guys, who are real rah-rah guys. If you look at all the top teams, they have those kinds of guys.”