CLIPPERS LOOK AT 2 ARENAS : ANAHEIM MIGHT LAND NBA TEAM.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

While the Clippers remain engaged in serious discussions about moving to Orange County, they have taken the unusual step of re-opening negotiations with the Sports Arena immediately after ending their current lease.

With the NBA franchise's future up in the air, the team is negotiating with Anaheim Arena and the Sports Arena.

``They're a team without a home right now,'' Anaheim Arena general manager Brad Mayne said.

Both arenas have reserved 50 possible dates to schedule 41 home games next year for the Clippers.

Although the Clippers informed the Sports Arena over the weekend that they would terminate their current lease, general manager Pat Lynch said Tuesday he has already re-opened talks with Clippers executive vice president Andy Roeser.

``Andy said, `Let's talk about updating the lease for next year. We're not sure what's going to happen with Anaheim,' '' Lynch said. ``We want to keep talking. We started discussions on that.''

The Clippers felt if they did not terminate their current lease by June 1, they would be legally bound to return to the Sports Arena, Lynch said. They now have the luxury of taking even more time to decide their fate.

The Clippers might also be creating a safety net in case the possible move to Anaheim falls through.

Mayne said that talks between the Clippers and Ogden Entertainment Group, the company which runs Anaheim Arena, are ``closer than ever'' in reaching a possible agreement, but he also warned that he would be ``surprised as anybody'' if an agreement is reached.

Tuesday night, Anaheim City Council members were given an upbeat appraisal by city manager James Ruth. Meeting in a closed session, the council was told that Ogden was making progress in its attempts to lure the Clippers.

``They're further than ever before,'' council member Bob Zemel said. ``We're anticipating a positive report next week.''

Or perhaps sooner.

The city council is expected to call a special session this week to obtain more details on the Clippers-Ogden talks, according to council members Frank Feldhaus and Lou Lopez.

Ogden must obtain city approval before signing an agreement with the Clippers.

``Right now, it's very premature,'' Zemel said. ``Ogden has not asked the city for anything.''

A prime issue Tuesday was whether the city would be willing to contribute financially to any Ogden offer. Under an existing lease agreement, the city must pay Ogden $1.5 million in October 1997, if no NBA franchise plays at Anaheim Arena next season and specific revenue projections are not met.

The city would pay that sum each of the next five years if no NBA team moves in.

At least one council member, Feldhaus, was opposed to offering the Clippers the $1.5 million as an enticement.

``I would not subsidize any type of sports team,'' Feldhaus said. ``To just make a deal for them to come and give them the ($1.5 million), that's baloney.''

Feldhaus provided the swing vote in the city's 3-2 approval of the recent deal that gave the Walt Disney Co. $30 million toward a $100 million renovation of Anaheim Stadium for the Angels.

But he has a different view of the Clippers. He said that Anaheim Stadium would be vacant without the Angels, while Anaheim Arena already has the Mighty Ducks no matter what the Clippers decide.

He also criticized assisting Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling.

``His attitude has been for years that Los Angeles is his hometown and how wonderful it is and he wants to be in L.A.,'' Feldhaus said. ``Stay there then.''But other council members appeared inclined to support a deal, including Zemel, who opposed the Disney agreement.

``I'm not so sure contractually how airtight the $1.5 million payment is. I think we're a little set up for that because of a prior agreement with Ogden,'' Zemel said. ``(But) we want NBA basketball very much.''

The Clippers remain quiet about their future.

``We are abiding by our usual policy to not comment on evolving situations,'' team spokesperson Joe Safety said. ``While it's evolving we will not talk about it.''

The Coliseum Commission will hold a closed-session meeting today and Lynch said he will brief members on the Clippers negotiations.

``They're just keeping their options open rather than saying goodbye,'' Lynch said. ``I think for them to keep options open, this is what they had to do.''