They can’t wait for Brand

SANTA BARBARA -- Cuttino Mobley, in the pool with his son, quickly hopped out. Sam Cassell pulled the car he was driving to the side of the road. Corey Maggette, fresh off a long airplane ride, stood frozen in the terminal.

In August, as word that Elton Brand -- the Clippers’ unequivocal leader -- had torn his Achilles’ tendon, a mixture of bewilderment and shock filtered among his teammates scattered across the country.

For a franchise seemingly on the verge of overcoming its futility in 2005-06 with an inspired playoff run, but followed it by missing the playoffs last season while losing point guard Shaun Livingston to a devastating knee injury, the news about Brand seemed surreal.

That Brand suffered the injury while undergoing his trademark strenuous off-season workouts made it insufferable.

As the Clippers training camp opened Tuesday at Santa Barbara City College, several players said the team isn’t looking to just tread water until Brand and Livingston return, but to come out of the gate winning ballgames.

“You can’t wait for it to come,” Mobley said. “You have to be aggressive. I’m all for it. I’m super ready and you’ve got to hold it on your shoulders.”

Tim Thomas, who probably will slide into Brand’s starting role, said when he first heard about Brand’s injury he immediately called trainer Jasen Powell but got his voicemail.

“I kind of knew at that point that something could have been up,” Thomas said. “If anybody was to seriously get hurt at the practice site, he would be on the job. Knowing I couldn’t reach him, I thought there was a possibility it could be serious.”

Brand, who is now in a walking boot and cleared to ride a stationary bike, is confident his team and the veterans it acquired will keep the team afloat.

“We’ll take care of it,” Brand said. “We’ll do what we have to do. I think they did a great job with what they could do. They got some active players and some veteran talent.”

General Manager Elgin Baylor, who tore his Achilles’ and fully recovered late in his own Hall of Fame career, agreed. “Elton is going to be back. He’s not going to be out all season.”

Point guard Dan Dickau, waived Tuesday by the New York Knicks after a buyout of his contract, is expected to undergo a physical examination for the Clippers today. Pending the results, he could be in camp by tonight’s second team practice, a source said.

Mobley, who strained his left calf in a workout last week, is expected to miss this week’s training camp. He did pool therapy and rode a stationary bike instead. . . . Chris Kaman tweaked his lower back and sat out the remainder of Tuesday’s practice. . . . The Clippers signed free-agent forward Yaroslav Korolev, a longshot to make the team, and the third-year player reported to camp Tuesday. They also signed point guard Donell Williams, who played at Los Angeles Fairfax High. . . . Individual game tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. They can be purchased through Clippers.com, ticketmaster.com and at the Staples Center box office, ranging from $15 to $175.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com