Wilcox Is Traded to Seattle

Their patience exhausted with Chris Wilcox, the Clippers on Tuesday traded the backup forward-center to the Seattle SuperSonics for forward Vladimir Radmanovic.

The Clippers acquired a 6-foot-10 three-point specialist in exchange for Wilcox, a former first-round draft pick whose inconsistency and apparent lackadaisical attitude stirred frustration in the organization. Radmanovic, with the SuperSonics in Milwaukee on Tuesday, was scheduled to undergo a physical today in Los Angeles.

He might join the Clippers tonight in Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors in their final game before the All-Star break, a team spokesman said. The Clippers and SuperSonics exchanged players who could become free agents after the season, making a move in an attempt to bolster their rosters before the Feb. 23 trade deadline.

Radmanovic could help provide improved long-range shooting for the Clippers, and Wilcox gets a fresh start in Seattle.

“It is a good opportunity for Chris to start over,” center Chris Kaman said. “He was kind of behind the eight-ball here because of the style of basketball. He’s a great athlete, so he really needed somebody to get him the ball in the open court.

“He runs well, but that’s not really the way we play, and he’s behind me and Elton [Brand]. I really hope it works out for him.”

Although the 6-foot-10 Wilcox did not develop as the team envisioned, the Clippers tried to remain optimistic about their first-round selection -- eighth overall -- from the 2002 draft.

Some in the organization figured Wilcox, who has a salary of more than $2.8 million this season, would increase his efforts in hopes of earning a multiyear contract, but he never met expectations while averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Coach Mike Dunleavy often appeared frustrated because of Wilcox’s poor rebounding and defense.

The Clippers, who had been trying to trade Wilcox recently, rejected the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offer of center Eddie Griffin for Wilcox and the first-round draft pick the Clippers acquired from Minnesota in the Sam Cassell trade.

Radmanovic, Seattle’s No. 1 selection in the 2001 draft, might be a good fit for the Clippers because of his ability to stretch defenses. He averaged 9.3 points and made 36.7% of his three-point attempts for Seattle. Radmanovic, owed the remainder of his $3.1-million salary, made 38.9% of his three-point shots last season.

“It’s an opportunity to add a player to our system who brings a totally different dimension,” Dunleavy said. “We have a bunch of guys who are pretty good low-post players, but we were looking for a guy who could do it more from distance.

“It’s a chance for Chris to get big minutes, and he’s the type of player who has a chance to play well when that happens. The problem here is that he was playing behind an MVP candidate in Brand, and Kaman is just better.”

TONIGHT

at Golden State, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- The Arena in Oakland.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 30-20, Warriors 23-28.

Record vs. Warriors -- 3-0.

Update -- The Clippers, who go for the series sweep, overcame a 19-point deficit Jan. 23 in a 96-93 victory at Oakland.