Bigger Things Expected

Stepping into a void created by the anticipated departure of Michael Olowokandi to free agency later this month is no big deal, Chris Kaman said during his first meet-and-greet with reporters Monday at Staples Center.

Starting center for the Clippers?

Kaman liked the sound of that.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” he said. “It’s a new step, a new adjustment for me. It doesn’t scare me.”

What’s so difficult about battling for position on the low block against Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan when you’ve fought against attention deficit disorder during your teenage years to become a first-round NBA draft pick?

“In junior high, middle school and my freshman and sophomore year, I was unable to concentrate and used to get thrown out of class,” Kaman told The Times earlier this year. “At times I still struggle to concentrate, but I just knew I had to master it and grow out of it.”

And what’s so tough about spending the summer in the weight room, bulking up a 255-pound frame that could use a few more muscles?

“It’s a new level,” he said of the more physical play in the NBA. “I’ll be playing against grown men. It will be an adjustment.”

With that in mind, he didn’t wait for the Clippers to pick him sixth in the NBA draft to hit the weights. Knowing any NBA team that drafted him would expect him to add 20 pounds or more to his 7-foot frame, he enlisted the help of Tim Grover, who was Michael Jordan’s Chicago-based personal trainer.

“I never played big-time events, except for the NCAA tournament, or on AAU teams or at the big-time camps,” Kaman said. “We played against Big Ten teams. We didn’t play against Pac-10 or ACC teams. Well, we played against Duke in the tournament. There weren’t a lot of options for me.”

Kaman was 6 feet 2 when he entered high school in Wyoming, Mich., a suburb of Grand Rapids. In time, he would sprout to 6-10 as a high school junior, then to 7 feet by the time he was in college at Central Michigan.

Kaman’s collegiate career began in modest fashion. He would earn Mid-American Conference all-freshman team honors, averaging 9.8 points in 28 games. He improved to 11.8 points in 24 games as a sophomore but was the second option behind David Webber, Chris’ younger brother.

Pro scouts began to tail Kaman midway through his junior season, when he would average 22.4 points and 12 rebounds in 31 games, leading the Chippewas to the MAC championship and their first NCAA appearance since 1987.

“I had a lot of people telling me, ‘You’ve had a great season, you need to leave,’ ” Kaman said of opting for the NBA draft. “I felt like there wasn’t a whole lot left for me to prove. I decided to leave. It’s turned out great. I was drafted sixth -- right where I wanted to be.”

Some starry-eyed young men might cringe at the prospect of playing for the Clippers, whose track record of failing to retain their players can best be summed up by the uncertain tenure of Olowokandi in the pivot.

On draft day, Kaman, 21, praised everyone in the organization -- from his new teammates to General Manager Elgin Baylor to owner Donald Sterling. “I know they don’t have a coach right now, but ... ,” an obviously excited Kaman said.

“I’m excited to be a part of it,” he said this week.

The Clippers, who took heat for drafting Kaman when other players such as Texas point guard T.J. Ford were still available, couldn’t be happier about getting Kaman.

Of course, they were also criticized for selecting Olowokandi from Pacific (over Arizona’s Mike Bibby) with the first overall pick in 1998. Olowokandi’s experience was limited and he clearly was a work in progress.

“Totally different,” Baylor said, comparing the two centers. “Chris has been playing basketball for a long time. He has tremendous footwork and low-post moves. He is as good with his left hand as his right.”

When the Miami Heat, picking just ahead of the Clippers, selected Marquette guard Dwyane Wade, Kaman’s fate was sealed. He would be a Clipper.

“We were so happy when Miami didn’t pick Chris,” Baylor said. “When we were looking at the players we liked and it was a question of whether to go big or small, we looked at talent. [Kaman] has tremendous skills for a 7-footer. We feel he’ll continue to improve. We would like him to gain weight and strength.

“I feel he’ll have a great career.”

For now, the Clippers would rather he spend the summer adding bulk to his frame. His post moves don’t need as much work, and the team will play its seven-game schedule this month at the Summer Pro League at Long Beach State without him.

“He weighs 255 now, but he could weigh 290 and it would be too much,” Baylor said. “I believe getting stronger is important.... Right now, I’m not concerned about him working on offensive things. He needs to get bigger and stronger.”