Clipper Thoughts Are Big, Small

The Clippers could use a little help starting today. By the looks of it, they need a new center, a new point guard and a new coach, although they won’t have all three crossed off their to-do list when the clock strikes midnight.

Or maybe even by the end of next month.

Michael Olowokandi is expected to seek a new contract elsewhere when he’s eligible to begin talking to other clubs Tuesday, and it probably won’t be long after the free-agent signing period begins July 16 that he lands a new deal.

Which means the Clippers could be looking for a center today, when they select sixth and 34th overall in the NBA draft. Chris Kaman, who stands nearly 7 feet and weighs 255 pounds and averaged 22.4 points in a traditional post-up role last season at Central Michigan, would be a logical first-round pick.

But it’s not quite that simple for the Clippers, who begin what promises to be an eventful off-season with today’s draft at New York City.

Andre Miller has been rumored to be traded before training camp opens in October, having failed miserably to meet the team’s expectations as the glue that holds together a youthful roster that had a tendency to spin out of control. Utah is said to be one possibility, having lost John Stockton to retirement.

Which means the Clippers could be seeking help at point guard, perhaps T.J. Ford, whose 5-11, 162-pound frame and 40% career shooting at Texas has given some teams pause.

Unlike Kaman, Ford did not work out for Clipper executives, although plenty of mock drafts have the team selecting the Wooden Award winner as college basketball’s top player last season.

Meanwhile, the Clipper coaching search continues, with Mike Dunleavy having last week turned down an offer of four years and about $10 million and interim Coach Dennis Johnson still in limbo. Talks with Dunleavy haven’t ended and both sides continue to hope a deal can be soon reached.

The Clippers have imposed a news blackout on their coaching search. They also offered little insight into their draft plans this week, with General Manager Elgin Baylor boldly proclaiming that he will select the player who “fits best with our team.”

“If you pick the guy you want, then it’s a good draft,” said Barry Hecker, the Clippers’ director of player personnel, when asked to compare this draft to past ones.

The Clippers also could trade their first- and/or second-round pick. After all, they almost pulled off a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to get Miller on draft day 2002. The Miller-for-Darius Miles swap was completed several weeks later. They also acquired Elton Brand from the Chicago Bulls for the rights to local prep standout Tyson Chandler on draft day 2001.

“You never know,” Baylor said when asked about the possibility of another deal on draft day. “I don’t see a lot of change in positions -- not at the top. Some teams might move down and get two picks for one.”

There’s little question that the strength of the draft rests with the first three picks. LeBron James is expected to go to the Cavaliers as the top overall selection. Darko Milicic probably will go to the Detroit Pistons as the second pick and Carmelo Anthony to the Denver Nuggets as the third selection.

It’s anyone’s guess what will happen next.

For instance, Dwyane Wade, a shooting guard who averaged 21.5 points on 50% shooting to lead Marquette to its first Final Four appearance since 1977, could be available when it’s the Clippers’ turn.

Or the Clippers could go another route, selecting a European with their top pick and joining in the frenzied globalization of the league.

If the Clippers do take a European, a Pole could interest them.

That’s a Pole as in someone from Poland rather than someone tall and thin. In this case, it could be Maciej Lampe, who stands 6-10 and weighs 240 pounds and spent the last two seasons playing in Spain.

“For years, there was a perception that Europeans were not as good as our kids,” Hecker said. “Now maybe we’re going the other way. Teams are afraid to miss the next [Dirk] Nowitzki.... Between the high school kids, the European kids and our [college] kids, you could scout somebody different every day. It used to be that you could track [college] guys for four years and you really got to know them. Now if you don’t have a good scouting system you can get lost.”

In other news Wednesday, the Clippers made one-season qualifying offers to Miller, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Lamar Odom, making them restricted free agents as of Tuesday. The Clippers have the right to match any outside offers to the four players and can sign them to long-term contracts July 16.