Point Guard Help Expected to Come From Goldwire

Needing a point guard because Marko Jaric and Shaun Livingston probably will remain sidelined through the end of the month, the Clippers have zeroed in on journeyman Anthony Goldwire, NBA sources said.

The Clippers cleared a roster spot Monday by waiving shooting guard Kirk Penney, who played in four games, scoring two points in 12 minutes.

Goldwire, waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after playing two scoreless minutes this season, was in Denver on Monday but he and the Clippers could not reach agreement on a contract. He is expected to be at practice today in El Segundo.

“I think we need to pick up a point guard,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said before Monday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets. “If one of these guys gets hurt, we’re going to be in a bad situation. I was hoping to get it done by today.”

Without naming Goldwire, Dunleavy added, “We’re dealing with somebody. Whether we get a deal done or not, I don’t know yet.”

Goldwire, 33, has played for eight NBA teams, averaging 6.5 points and 2.8 assists in 231 games. He played in 11 games last season, splitting time between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Jersey Nets.

He would be the Clippers’ third sound point guard, joining Rick Brunson, who has started since Jaric was sidelined Dec. 20, and rookie Lionel Chalmers.

“Initially, when we signed Penney ... we thought Marko was going to be back in a couple of days,” Dunleavy said. “When we got word that Marko’s stress fracture was going to put him out a month, I’m sitting there in practice saying, ‘I can’t even practice,’ because if one of these guys goes down, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I might have to suit up myself.”

Livingston is sidelined because of a dislocated right kneecap.