Unity Is Early Buzzword

A week in the desert left Elton Brand with a sense of renewal.

“No ill remarks, no ill feelings,” the Clipper forward said Sunday after the club finished six days of practice at Palm Desert. “It’s like, pride in the team. We feel like we’re one. There’s some oneness, some togetherness.

“We had it two years ago. Last year, we never had it.”

Last season, amid high hopes, they never reached .500 either, leading to the firing of Alvin Gentry and the hiring over the summer of Coach Mike Dunleavy.

Dunleavy declared his first training camp with the Clippers a success, not only because they made it through without major injuries but also because they seemed willing to learn.

“I feel like we got a lot accomplished,” said Dunleavy, whose team will open an eight-game exhibition season Tuesday night at Sacramento. “Games begin now, and then the real evaluations kind of start. This is really more for conditioning and starting to get a semblance of a system in, working on things ... and ultimately making decisions and adjustments.

“But overall I was really pleased with the effort. I thought guys really worked hard, and some guys had really good camps.”

Said Brand: “It went well. I know one thing: We’re in shape.”

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Point guard Marko Jaric returned to practice after sitting out Saturday’s two sessions because of a sprained left shoulder.

Chris Kaman sat out, but not because of a back injury that has slowed his progress. The rookie center from Central Michigan was sidelined because of a strained left calf and is questionable for Tuesday night.

Kaman said his calf was hurting as camp opened and “just got worse and worse.” Still, he was hoping to play against the Kings.

Of the minor injuries that have dogged him, Kaman said, “There’s a reason for everything, is what I believe. I’m waiting to see what it is, though.”

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Guard Jason Crowe, who played at Cal State Northridge, and forward Matt Garrison, who played at Biola, were cut, leaving 17 players on the roster.

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The Clippers, who open the regular season at Tokyo, won’t leave the state during the exhibition season. After Tuesday, they’ll play five games at Staples Center and one each at Oakland and the Arrowhead Pond.

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Neil Olshey was hired as director of player development, Jerry Holloway as advance scout and Nick Brown as assistant director of communications. Ta’Nisha Cooper was promoted to assistant director of media services.