CLIPPERS FIRST LOOK: FINDING COACH TOP PRIORITY : CLIPPERS EXPECTED TO PICK JIM BREWER.Byline: Randy Hill Now that mouthpiece-to-mouthpiece negotiations have resuscitated re·sus·ci·tate v. re·sus·ci·tat·ed, re·sus·ci·tat·ing, re·sus·ci·tates v.tr. To restore consciousness, vigor, or life to. See Synonyms at revive. v.intr. To regain consciousness. the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= , it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to check the pulse of the Clippers. There is good news: they begin the forthcoming avalanche of deals with 10 players under contract. And there are some surprising similarities - OK, one similarity - between the defenders of the Sports Arena and the Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1966, and has won six NBA Championships since. , who will defend three consecutive NBA championships. The Bulls haven't officially declared the name of their coach. They've hired Tim Floyd Tim Floyd (born February 25, 1954) is the current head coach of the University of Southern California men's college basketball team. Floyd is also a former head coach of several teams in both the NCAA and the NBA. , and he figures to be named head coach as soon as Phil Jackson ignores the latest half-hearted pleas to return and choreograph the empire. The Clippers have adopted a comparable strategy. The team is expected to hire Jim Brewer as Bill Fitch's replacement. Brewer, who was hired as Fitch's assistant four seasons back, is considered the favorite over fired Milwaukee Bucks coach Chris Ford. Given the NBA's compacted training-camp schedule and his familiarity with the current roster, conventional wisdom would favor Brewer. The team's first priority, once the coaching issue is settled, is Michael Olowokandi, selected by the Clippers with the first pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Three days ago, the 7-foot-1 center from the University of Pacific signed a contract with Kinder Bologna of the Euro League. The deal, as it has been presented by agent Bill Duffy, has a unique clause that will allow Olowokandi to escape to the United States and play for the Clippers. . . but not until Feb. 15. While playing in Europe for a month and change, conflicting reports list his expected earnings at either $600,000 or $1 million. Olowokandi is scheduled to begin his pro career tonight when Kinder Bologna meets PAOK PAOK Panthessalonikios Athlitikos Omilos Konstantinoupolis (Athletic Club of Constantinople in Thessaloniki; Thessaloniki, Greece) Salonica of Greece in the historically rough-and-tumble Euro League playoffs. The next Clippers priority would appear to be the backcourt, specifically point guard. Former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX star Darrick Martin occupied the position last season, after which his contract expired. If the team attempts to bring in two point guards, Martin is a potential candidate for re-signing. If the Clippers shop for only one playmaker play·mak·er n. A player in a sport with goals, such as a guard in basketball, who initiates offensive plays. play , Martin is not expected to be that guy. Loy Vaught, an eight-year Clippers power forward, also is a free agent and not expected to return. Vaught, a franchise favorite for several years, missed last season with a back injury. He reportedly is as fit as a fiddle now, but the team appears to be in great shape at the ``four'' spot without him. Possible destinations for Vaught include New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , New Jersey or Detroit. Free-agent center Ike Austin, acquired by the Clippers from Miami last season in a deal that sent Brent Barry to the Heat, figures to seek employment elsewhere. The 10 Clippers under contract are point guard Pooh Richardson, combo guard James Robinson, ``two' guard Charles Smith, swingmen Lamond Murray and Eric Piatkowski, forwards Rodney Rogers, Maurice Taylor and Lorenzen Wright, and centers Keith Closs and Stokjo Vrankovic. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Michael Olowokandi, the Clippers' top pick in the 1998 draft, debuts with Kinder Bologna tonight. David Sprague/Daily News |
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