SHAUN LIVINGSTON
               NEWS

Many who follow the Los Angeles Clippers from near and afar are apt to think so. Seemingly no other NBA organization has been beset by as many serious injuries to marquee players like the Los Angeles Clippers.

There were Danny Manning, Charles Smith and Ron Harper — linchpins for the Los Angeles Clippers during that point in their careers — who suffered season-crippling injuries that not only affected their careers but made an indelible impact on the franchise.

Now come the latest injuries to stymie this organization, which has had only two winning seasons in the last 23 years.

First, point guard Shaun Livingston, whom the franchise hoped would be the court leader for the next decade when he was drafted fourth overall in 2004, suffered a devastating left knee injury in February in a game against Charlotte.

Hoping to put as positive a spin on the situation as possible, Los Angeles Clippers officials initially said that it was possible that it was not a season-ending injury. Months later, it was revealed that doctors told Shaun Livingston that night that there was a remote possibility that his leg would have to be amputated below the knee.

Shaun Livingston's injury immediately turned the Los Angeles Clippers' offseason priority into signing a veteran free agent point guard, which was accomplished when they signed journeyman Brevin Knight.

Ironically, on the day that Knight agreed to sign, the Los Angeles Clippers' cornerstone player, Elton Brand, suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon, which likely will sideline him for at least the majority of the 2007-08 season.

As much as Shaun Livingston's injury hurts for the present and even the future — if his mobility is hampered — the Los Angeles Clippers took a much bigger hit with Elton Brand's injury.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy's offense revolves around Elton Brand, who is one of the NBA's most prolific low-post scorers. Elton Brand also annually ranks among the league's elite in rebounds and blocked shots.

Manning, Smith and Harper were the Los Angeles Clippers' go-to offensive stars when their injuries occurred, and it had a dire effect on the team's fortunes in those seasons. The Los Angeles Clippers were hoping to rebound from last season's disappointment and return to the playoffs, where they made a startling dash to the Western Conference semifinals, in 2006. Without Elton Brand, the chance of that reoccurring is slim.

NOTES, QUOTES

—As expected, the Los Angeles Clippers retained their entire assistant coaching staff of Jim Eyen, Kim Hughes, Neal Meyer and Rory White. Hughes, the last few seasons, has been approached by other NBA teams seeking to add him to their staffs.

However, two longtime and loyal members of the Los Angeles Clippers' organization were let go this summer. Jim Mitchell, the Midwest regional scout for the last 21 years, was told his services no longer were needed. Also jettisoned was 11-year video coordinator Brian Switzer.

—This year's second-round draft pick, Jared Jordan, and last year's second-round pick, Guillermo Diaz, are set to battle each other in training camp for the role as the team's third point guard. Jordan led the NCAA in assists the last two years while playing for Marist. Diaz spent last season playing in Europe.

Will Conroy, who also hoped to be in that competition, was waived this month. Conroy joined the Los Angeles Clippers last season, originally signing a 10-day contract, after spending much of the season in the NBA's developmental league. After the Los Angeles Clippers waived veteran center Zeljko Rebraca in March, Conroy was signed for the remainder of the season.

—The Los Angeles Clippers had an opportunity to sign swingman and defensive ace Quinton Ross to a contract extension this summer. However, it appears likely that Ross will play this season under the team's club option and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

—Construction is accelerating on the Los Angeles Clippers' private practice facility in Playa Vista. The steel framing has gone up, and other facets are being completed daily. The building is scheduled to be open in February, which will make the training camp this October the last one the Los Angeles Clippers will conduct in Santa Barbara.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am really excited about our signing of Ruben Patterson. He is a great competitor. I have always admired the intensity he brings from game to game." — Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy

ROSTER REPORT

DRAFT PICKS:

First round (14th overall): Al Thornton, 6-8, forward, Florida State: The Los Angeles Clippers relish the idea that they believe the soon-to-be 24-year-old Thornton will be ready to produce this season. After four college seasons, including his senior year when he led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring, Thornton ought to be able to be a solid contributor off the bench at small forward. Thornton has good offensive skills, although he is a below-average ballhandler, but his most notable trait is that he plays exceptionally hard on both ends of the floor.

Second round (45th overall): Jared Jordan, 6-2, guard, Marist: Will compete in training camp, with Will Conroy and Guillermo Diaz, for the team's third point guard job. Jordan led the NCAA in assists as a junior and a senior, becoming the first player to do so in consecutive years since Avery Johnson did it for Southern in 1986-88. Will play on the Los Angeles Clippers' summer league team and will be tested immediately to see if he has the mettle to survive at the next level.

FREE AGENT FOCUS:

—F Ruben Patterson will sign a one-year contract after taking his physical. Patterson averaged a career-high 14.7 points per game last season in 81 games with the Milwaukee Bucks. He also averaged 5.4 rebounds. Touted as a fierce defensive player, Patterson, 32, brings aggressiveness and intensity to the floor. This is his sixth NBA team.

—G Brevin Knight signed a two-year contract last month. Knight will share the point guard position with veteran starter Sam Cassell. Knight, 31, averaged 9.1 points and 6.6 assists last season with the Charlotte Bobcats. He led the NBA in steals as a rookie in 1997-98 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and annually ranks among the league leaders in assists-to-turnovers ratio.

—F Josh Powell has signed a one-year contract. Powell played in 37 games last season with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors, averaging 3.1 point and 2.4 rebounds. He was traded by the Pacers to the Warriors in the deal that involved Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy's son, Mike Dunleavy Jr. This will be Powell's fourth team since the 2005-2006 season. He began his career in Dallas.

PLAYER NOTES:

—G-F Corey Maggette figures to boost his scoring production substantially now that the absence of Elton Brand has created a huge scoring void for the Los Angeles Clippers. Corey Maggette is capable of doing so. Starting with his rookie season with Orlando in 1999-2000, he increased his scoring average every year through the 2004-05 season, when he averaged 22.2 points per game. The last two seasons, Corey Maggette has averaged 17.8 and 16.9 points per game, respectively, while battling an assortment of injuries.

—F Tim Thomas is expected to step into Elton Brand's starting power forward position and will need to provide more rebounds and more consistent play from game to game. Thomas will give the Los Angeles Clippers more of an outside shooting presence, but the team will miss Elton Brand's shot-blocking ability. Thomas' career-high scoring average was 14.7 points per game in 2003-04, when he split the year playing with the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks.

—C Chris Kaman, whose scoring and rebounding numbers dipped considerably last season from the previous year, will be counted on to provide a more prominent low-post presence. Chris Kaman never fully got untracked after signing a five-year, $52 million contract extension before the start of the 2006-2007 season. Without Elton Brand, the Los Angeles Clippers will look to get more scoring from Chris Kaman.

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