Polynice Back With Clippers

After searching far and wide for a frontcourt veteran, the Clippers on Monday signed center-forward Olden Polynice, 38, who last played in the NBA in 2000-01.

“The fact is, Kevin Willis has something left and keeps himself in excellent shape and he’s older than Olden,” said Elgin Baylor, Clipper general manager. “I’m not saying Olden will play 40 minutes a game, but there’s no reason he can’t give us quality minutes.”

Willis, 40, helped the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA championship last spring, playing a limited role as a substitute center.

Polynice, who turns 39 in November, played with the Utah Jazz in 2000-01, averaging 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds. He was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers before the 2002-03 season but released after four exhibition games.

More recently, Polynice played with the Harlem Globetrotters, Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball Assn., and the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs of the U.S. Basketball League.

This will be Polynice’s second stint with the Clippers and he will be asked to help tutor young centers Melvin Ely, Chris Kaman and Wang Zhizhi.

“We had Olden once before and he was a blue-collar worker,” Baylor said of Polynice, who played two seasons with the Clippers, 1990-91 and 1991-92. “He plays hard and plays with enthusiasm and energy. When Olden was here [in ‘91-92] we went to the playoffs and I think he had a lot to do with it. He brought a toughness and an enthusiasm and energy level whenever he came into the game.”

Polynice was jailed for two days in April after his conviction for a golf-course fight in Salt Lake City. He also was fined $450 and ordered to undergo an anger-management course for screaming at a prosecutor. His conviction also violated an earlier plea bargain for impersonating a police officer.