In six games, Drew Gooden has made his presence felt

Drew Gooden said he would make people wonder why he keeps getting traded.

By doing so, he is prompting the Clippers to ponder whether they should keep him.

The veteran forward has been a big addition in six games with his latest NBA team, averaging 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game. He had never averaged that many points or minutes with any of his previous eight teams.

“I’m getting an opportunity, and I’m thankful for that,” Gooden said Thursday.

Gooden has capably filled the void created by the departure of Marcus Camby, recording two double-doubles and falling one rebound short of a double-double twice.

“He’s versatile,” Clippers interim Coach Kim Hughes said. “He can run pick and roll, he can post up and he can hit the spot-up jumper.”

The Clippers and Gooden have a little more than a month left in the season to continue feeling each other out before deciding whether to stay together. Gooden, 28, said he would consider remaining in Los Angeles this summer when he becomes a free agent.

“I’m trying to find a home somewhere, whether it’s here or somewhere else,” he said. “But one day, Drew Gooden will find a home.”

Gooden acknowledged that the return of Blake Griffin at power forward could factor into his decision.

“They have a lot invested in Blake,” Gooden said. “If he was healthy, I probably wouldn’t even be here. So things happen for a reason and hopefully he gets right and is here next year for us.”

The Clippers also are poised to add a first-round draft pick and possibly a marquee free agent, meaning their makeup could be drastically different in a matter of months.

“It could be a big summer for the Clips,” Gooden said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Rhino tough

Already hobbled by calf, hip and biceps injuries, forward Craig Smith took a shot to the neck from DeAndre Jordan during practice Thursday.

“Now he’s going to have four injuries instead of just three,” Hughes said.

Nevertheless, Smith is expected to return Friday against Oklahoma City from a two-game absence caused primarily by a strained left biceps.

Making headlines

The Clippers were skewered on a few Internet sites this week over a racially insensitive headline that briefly appeared on the official team website after the site apparently was altered by a hacker.

The headline read “Clippers Trade Steven Esparza to Mexican League for Three Tacos” and was posted above a story about Phoenix’s comeback victory over Denver on Monday. Esparza is media services coordinator in the Clippers’ communications department. The Clippers declined to comment on the headline.

ben.bolch@latimes.com