Clippers Likely to Sign Former All-Star Baker

Looking for help in unusual places, the Clippers are expected to sign Vin Baker, the fallen four-time All-Star, out of retirement.

The 6-foot-10 Baker made the All-Star game in his second, third and fourth seasons with Milwaukee from 1995 to 1997, and his first in Seattle in 1998, before his career went off a cliff.

He finally acknowledged a drinking problem as he was shuffled to the Boston Celtics, then the New York Knicks and finally the Houston Rockets in his last three seasons, posting single-figure scoring averages in all of them.

He played in 27 games last season with the Knicks and Rockets, averaging 1.3 points.

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Seven-year-old Rayshawn Bright, who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, attended the game as Kobe Bryant’s guest. Bryant met the boy at last fall’s benefit game here and has stayed in touch with him.

Bright is now living in temporary housing here with his adopted parents after living in shelters in San Antonio, Waco and Katy.

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Tracy McGrady, appearing in the interview room with Tim Duncan, said the All-Star game belongs to the guards since “there’s really no excitement to throw the ball to them [big men] down there,” whereupon Duncan threw up his hands in mock resignation, got up and left.

“Your game, it’s effective!” McGrady yelled to the departing Duncan. “But it’s boring.”

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Former President George H.W. Bush sat courtside, a few seats down from “Desperate Housewives” star Eva Longoria and actor Jamie Foxx.