Clippers Stay Coy on Russian

The Russian is coming, the Russian is coming.

Or is he?

For weeks speculation has centered on Yaroslav Korolev as the Clippers’ probable choice with the 12th pick in tonight’s NBA draft.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said Monday of the persistent reports that the Clippers have targeted the Muscovite teenager, “as long as you figure out a way to get done what you want to get done.”

Korolev, who turned 18 last month, is eight months younger than Shaun Livingston was last year when the Clippers made the Illinois native the first true point guard to jump directly from high school to the NBA.

That seems not to faze them.

Maybe that’s because they’re delighted with Livingston, who showed enough during an injury-shortened rookie season to be penciled in as a starter for next season. Or maybe it’s because Korolev, a small forward, reminds Dunleavy of a player he knows well: his son, Mike Jr., of the Golden State Warriors.

Like the younger Dunleavy, Korolev is 6 feet 8 and said to have a tremendous feel for the game. A good shooter and capable playmaker and passer, he too is a coach’s son. His father, Igor, coaches Russia’s national junior team.

One thing’s for sure: His youth won’t deter the Clippers.

“To me, it has nothing to do with your physical age,” Dunleavy said, not addressing Korolev specifically. “It has to do with your maturity, your skill level. I’m not averse to playing young players if I think they can play.”

On the downside, Korolev might be years away from making a meaningful contribution and might not offer much in the way of immediate help.

If the Clippers take a shorter view, he might not be their pick. They might opt instead for a swingman with range who could fill a pressing need for a three-point shooter: Antoine Wright of Texas A&M;, perhaps, or Danny Granger of New Mexico. Rashad McCants of North Carolina might be the most physically gifted shooting guard in the draft, but questions persist about his prickly personality.

Wright, a 6-5 1/4 guard who has been compared to Joe Johnson of the Phoenix Suns, was said to have had a terrific workout for the Clippers last week.

Of course, he could be gone by the time the Clippers pick.

“We’re fortunate [that] we have a lot of flexibility in our roster and in our [salary] cap situation,” Dunleavy said last week, perhaps inadvertently tipping his hand toward Korolev, “so this is one of those drafts where we could fill a best-player scenario, as opposed to a specific need. I feel like whatever we can get in the draft, we can address the other needs in free agency.”

The Clippers have only two wing players under contract for next season -- Corey Maggette and Quinton Ross -- but are hopeful of re-signing Bobby Simmons, an unrestricted free agent, and Marko Jaric, a restricted free agent.

They also are expected to pursue a free-agent shooting guard to replace Kerry Kittles. Among the top players that could be available this summer: Ray Allen, Larry Hughes, Michael Redd, Cuttino Mobley and, a longer shot, Johnson.

Tapping Korolev tonight would be a bet on future dividends.

“We’d like a guy that can shoot the ball,” Dunleavy said, ticking off a wish list. “We’d like a guy who has a good overall feel for the game. We’d like a guy who can defend. If we get that guy [who can do all that], it’s going to be great.

“More than likely, you’re going to give ground on one of them. Maybe a guy’s a better offensive player than a defensive player. Maybe he doesn’t have as good a feel for making plays but he can do different things. You make tradeoffs based on what’s available. But overall, that’s the kind of guy we’re looking for.”

Of course, 11 teams picking ahead of the Clippers are too.

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The Clippers extended a qualifying offer to Jaric, giving them the right to match any other NBA team’s offer to Jaric after the Serbian guard becomes a restricted free agent Friday.

Five Clippers from last season will be unrestricted free agents Friday: Simmons, Kittles, Zeljko Rebraca, Mikki Moore and Rick Brunson.