Injuries Drive Roster Decisions

Injuries have prompted the Clippers to reevaluate their season-opening roster.

Starting small forward Corey Maggette (strained left hamstring), backup point guard Shaun Livingston (back injury), starting center Chris Kaman (sore left hand) and backup center Zeljko Rebraca (tendinitis in his left knee) have been slowed in the exhibition season, with Livingston sidelined indefinitely.

The Clippers had planned to carry 14 players to start the season, but it appeared Monday they would instead have a maximum 15-man roster.

“We’re probably going to go that way,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said after practice at the Spectrum health club in El Segundo.

“With the injuries, we’re just not sure who’s going to be healthy to start the season. We just don’t know, so we’re going to have to look at some different guys in different situations.”

Free-agent point guard Anthony Goldwire, recently signed because of Livingston’s status, has secured a roster spot by default.

The Clippers need three active point guards, and Goldwire would join starter Sam Cassell and rookie Daniel Ewing at the position. Dunleavy was pleased with Goldwire’s performance in Sunday’s 112-82 exhibition victory against the Golden State Warriors.

“He was great,” Dunleavy said. “He does some good things, and we do need three point guards.”

In addition to Goldwire and Ewing, rookie forwards James Singleton and Yaroslav Korolev and veteran forward Walter McCarty are also expected to make the team. That would leave one spot for either forward Rodney White or forward/center Boniface Ndong.

The 6-foot-9 White, signed during training camp, was selected in the first round (ninth overall) by the Detroit Pistons in the 2001 draft. He played in 58 games with the Denver Nuggets last season, averaging 5.1 points.

In seven exhibitions, White has averaged 7.6 points and shot 43.6% from the field. He could provide depth at small forward if Maggette’s hamstring doesn’t cooperate, but Ndong, a native of Senegal, might be needed if Kaman’s hand remained sore much longer.

The 7-foot Ndong, who has averaged six points a game in exhibition play, had his best performance against Golden State, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Ndong has a contractual issue that would have to be addressed, but it probably wouldn’t deter the Clippers from keeping him if Dunleavy decided that’s what was best for the team.

“I’ve got to make some cuts soon and the guys have made it harder for me,” Dunleavy said. “We have a lot of guys who have played well.”