Martin Is a CBA All-Star but Hopes He Stays Put

The NBA All-Star teams will not be announced until next month, but the Clippers already have an All-Star in veteran guard Darrick Martin, who signed a 10-day contract with the team last week.

On Wednesday, Martin was one of 10 players selected to play for the Eastern Conference at the Continental Basketball Assn. All-Star game next Wednesday in Gary, Ind. Martin, who averaged 15 points in 17 games for the Michigan Mayhem, was pleased with the honor, but said he doesn’t plan on playing because he hoped to sign a second 10-day contract with the Clippers this weekend.

“It feels good to be back,” said Martin, who played for the Clippers from 1996 to ’99 and has played in four games in his second stint with the team. “Hopefully it will continue.”

Martin’s first 10-day contract expires after Friday’s game against Miami at Staples Center.

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Coach Mike Dunleavy on playing swingman Kerry Kittles at point guard: “That was the plan. We were hopeful that in time he would eventually do that for us. But right now, we have him back and we’re counting his minutes.”

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The Clippers do not expect to have the services of their three players on the injured list until at least next month. Guard Marko Jaric (foot stress fracture), guard Shaun Livingston (dislocated kneecap) and forward Chris Wilcox (leg stress fracture) may not return until after the All-Star game on Feb. 20.

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Several hundred tickets for the Heat game will go on sale today at 10 a.m. and will be available at Staples Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations.