Kaman Might Sit Longer

His badly sprained left knee healing slower than expected, Chris Kaman could miss more than the five games he will be required to sit out by opening the season on the injured list.

The Clipper center “is looking at another 10 days to two weeks before he’s able to play,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said Monday after practice at L.A. Southwest College.

If Kaman returned two weeks from today for the Clippers’ game Nov. 16 against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center, he would have sat out seven games.

“It’s one of those things where he has a really bad ankle sprain,” Dunleavy said.

“The medical staff looked at it today and didn’t think it was going to improve in time for the first five [games].”

Shooting guard Kerry Kittles, still recovering from a sore right knee that prevented him from participating in preseason camp, will also be on the injured list when the Clippers open the season Wednesday night against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center.

Although Dunleavy declined to announce who would start in Kaman’s place in the opener, the best bet seems to be power forward Chris Wilcox. The second-year pro out of Maryland said he was comfortable playing either post position.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s basically the same position,” said Wilcox, who averaged 11 points and five rebounds during exhibition play. “It’s a good thing for me to play both positions. I just prepare myself for each situation.”

Bobby Simmons is the leading candidate to fill in for Kittles.

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Dunleavy left after practice for Burbank, where he was scheduled to appear on Dennis Miller’s talk show.