CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK : MARTIN WAIVED BUT RECEIVES ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FITCH.

Brandon Martin is gone. But he might be back.

The former USC guard was waived by the Clippers on Sunday along with center Donald Hodge. But coach Bill Fitch said that with a season or two in Europe or the Continental Basketball Association, Martin could make an NBA club.

``It's all up to him,'' Fitch said. ``I told him to decide what he wants to do and I will help him with whatever he wants.''

Martin, a career shooting guard, tried to make the transition to point guard with the Clippers. Martin's size is imposing - 6-foot-4, a solid 200 pounds - but Fitch said he will need to refine his basic point-guard skills.

In his last action Saturday against Denver, Martin fared decently offensively but struggled with quickness and ballhandling against Nuggets veteran Eric Murdock.

Fitch liked Martin's work ethic - he was always the last player to leave practice - but needed to make a roster move because of the Clippers' logjam at guard.

Martin, an outstanding student, was graduated from USC with a degree in education and said he wanted to teach. The question for him is whether to pursue basketball or join corporate America.

``He's got the body (to be in this league),'' Fitch said, ``and the heart.''

The cuts reduce the Clippers roster to 14 players and Fitch must make one more cut before Tuesday. Guard Brent Barry will start the season on the injured list.