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Williams’ signing leaves Livingston out

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Times Staff Writer

The Clippers added more experience to their backcourt Thursday when they signed veteran point guard Jason Williams to a one-year contract.

Williams, 32, averaged 8.8 points and 4.6 assists in 67 games with the Miami Heat last season and will make the Clippers his fourth NBA team.

“He’s a proven player who has been a starter in this league,” Clippers General Manager Elgin Baylor said about Williams, who was drafted seventh overall by Sacramento in 1998. “He brings experience and he’s a very good playmaker.”

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By signing Williams, the Clippers basically eliminated themselves from re-signing point guard Shaun Livingston, who still has not been cleared for basketball as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in February 2007.

Livingston, who did not receive a qualifying offer from the Clippers after the season, recently turned down a reported one-year guaranteed deal from the team.

“At this point and time, we had to move on,” Baylor said about re-signing Livingston. “Shaun is not ready to make a commitment.”

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So the Clippers turned to Williams, who was ranked eighth in the league last season with a 3.37 assists-to-turnover ratio.

Williams will join three other guards the Clippers picked up during the off-season: Baron Davis, who signed as a free agent from Golden State; former Miami teammate Ricky Davis, who signed with the Clippers earlier this summer; and former Inglewood High standout Jason Hart.

“When you go through a season, the toughest position to fill is the point guard position,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

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Williams, who attracted interest from several NBA teams and also received an offer from Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, has averaged 11.4 points and 6.3 assists in his career. He won a championship with the Heat in 2006.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com

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