Players Seek to Sustain Their Success

It would be an achievement to earn a playoff berth for the first time in nine seasons, but the Clippers also are focused on the future.

Among their core group, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, Shaun Livingston, Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley are signed to multiyear contracts.

Sam Cassell and Vladimir Radmanovic have expressed strong interest in re-signing with the Clippers, who want them to return, so the franchise could have sustained success for the first time.

“We don’t want to slight ourselves in any way, or have low expectations about the playoffs, but I just turned 27, and Kaman is just 23 going on 24,” Brand said. “I’ve improved over the years, and we’re only going to get better, so we still have most of our prime basketball years ahead of us.

“We had a good mix this year of a lot of veterans, guys who have been tested, and some young guys who are taking some big steps. Just in terms of talent, there aren’t a lot of teams that can compare with us for years to come.”

General Manager Elgin Baylor and Coach Mike Dunleavy have positioned the team well under current salary-cap rules, which could help the Clippers retain Kaman, who turns 24 on April 28, and Livingston, 20.

“Those guys are very important to our future, and everyone knows that,” Brand said. “They’re a big part of getting us to this point, and the whole thing is a process.

“We see that we’re on the right road for the future, but we’re going to be optimistic until that time comes this season when we’re not playing anymore. We’re going to give it all we’ve got.”

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Maggette sat out Friday’s game against the Sacramento Kings because of back spasms, Dunleavy said.

Team medical personnel and a chiropractor examined Maggette, who experienced back pain Friday morning.

He had 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in Wednesday’s 119-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center.