Dunleavy envisions a veteran-rich roster

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy puts it in plain language as his team’s exhibition schedule opens tonight at Denver.

He doesn’t like what he doesn’t have. But he likes what he does have.

While injuries put a cramp on the prognosis for this season long before it even started, Dunleavy envisions a deep, veteran-filled roster capable of matching up with most teams, while creating mismatches of its own.

He vows to run a 10- or 11-man-deep rotation at the start of the season. With Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston on the inactive list, Dunleavy intends to use almost every available player on the roster.

The last time Dunleavy utilized a rotation that size, he said, was when he coached the Portland Trail Blazers to two deep playoff runs in 1999 and 2000.

“We have a lot of depth in a sense because guys can play multiple positions,” he said. “The key for us is to play with a lot of energy and play hard and not have to be worried about pacing ourselves.

“That versatility can be very positive for us. We just have to find out a little bit about each guy and their comfort zones. That will determine things as we go through the exhibition schedule.”

Dunleavy is pleased with how quickly some of the newcomers picked up his system and Sunday’s practice offered a brief glimpse of what to expect throughout the exhibition schedule and possibly into the season.

Second-year center Paul Davis looked good running the floor, making several fast-break layups and the expanding range on his jump shot may earn him more minutes this season.

Rookie Al Thornton continued to impress with his athleticism. And the newly acquired Dan Dickau made several three-point baskets and may end up pushing Brevin Knight as the first point guard off the bench in place of starter Sam Cassell.

“Hopefully, everyone can fit in and respond in a positive way,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy said that he wasn’t concerned about the tweaked lower back of center Chris Kaman, who will sit out tonight’s exhibition.

Kaman suffered a hamstring strain near the end of training camp in 2006-07 and it hampered him at the start of the season.

“Last year, he came into camp in great shape and then he was out and it took a while for him to get back,” Dunleavy said. “This is a little bit different. You have an injury at the beginning of camp and it’s a better time to have it.”

Kaman said he injured his back in the first practice at training camp in Santa Barbara when he extended for a rebound and got pushed in the back.

“It’s not worth it for me to go out there and get hurt again, especially in the preseason,” Kaman said. “But it’s getting there. It’s making progress everyday.”

The Clippers waived point guard Donell Williams. . . . Cassell (sore left knee) and forward Ruben Patterson (left hip pointer) returned to practice.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com