CLIPPERS NOW FREE TO DECIDE OLOWOKANDI OUT, BUT WHAT NEXT?

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

Michael Olowokandi stuck to his word. In 15 days, fans will see whether the Clippers stick to theirs.

Olowokandi left the Clippers for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday as soon as he could - the first day of the NBA's free-agent signing period. In addition, restricted free agents Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Corey Maggette all received offer sheets from other teams.

The only player of the four who is gone for sure is Olowokandi, officially ending a lengthy, love-hate relationship with the Clippers. His exit is in accordance with comments he made in January, when he said he would leave because he did not get a contract extension the previous summer.

If the Clippers do what they have said they want to do - match offers for their restricted free agents - then Brand, Miller and Maggette, along with fellow restricted free agent Lamar Odom - will be back.

On Wednesday, Clippers executive vice president Andy Roeser confirmed the team received offer sheets for Brand, Miller and Maggette and said a final decision will not be made for 15 days, the last day before the league-mandated deadline to match. Although some of Roeser's language changed, he reiterated the organization's stance.

``As we have repeatedly said, it is our intention to match any and all offers as we see fit, with a goal of maintaining the nucleus of our team,'' Roeser said.

Miller signed a six-year offer sheet with the Denver Nuggets worth $51 million, with $4.5 million in bonuses. Maggette's six-year contract with the Utah Jazz is for $42 million.

Brand's contract with the Miami Heat goes beyond the six-year, $78 million deal the Clippers put on the table this week. The Heat gave Brand an offer sheet worth $82.2 million after the team did not pick up an option on Alonzo Mourning, who signed with the New Jersey Nets.

All three contracts are structured in order to make it difficult for the Clippers to match. Miller's deal gives him a $10 million signing bonus with an additional $4 million before the start of the season. Brand's contract calls for his first-year salary, $10.96 million, to be paid up front.

A Clippers executive, who did not agree to be identified, said Brand and Maggette's offers likely will be matched. The Miller situation, however, is less certain.

With Brand, Miller and Maggette in contract limbo, the biggest news Wednesday came from Olowokandi. On Tuesday, the Clippers met with the center and his agent, Bill Duffy, but the meeting revolved around trying to work a sign-and-trade deal involving the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Clippers were not interested in what was offered.

The fact Olowokandi ended up in Minnesota by taking the Timberwolves' midlevel exception of four years for $19.6 million is a financial flop for the center, who had the opportunity to accept a seven-year, $50 million offer with $10 million in bonuses from the Clippers last offseason.

The Clippers made Olowokandi the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1998. He developed his skills for five years but often was maligned in the press and by fans, while teammates, the coaching staff and front-office personnel typically defended him.

When Olowokandi began to show significant improvement, he became critical of the franchise. After a loss in Utah in April 2002, he answered a question about selfish play by saying, ``Whenever you have a group of guys that are very uncertain of their future on the team, that will happen. Whenever you have that situation, you will never, ever, ever have a basketball team.''

Olowokandi was fined for the comments, and that was the beginning of the end. He was booed throughout this season and played in just 36 games after having knee surgery.

``We certainly wish Michael well,'' Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor said. ``But right now, we are focusing on the players who are here for the purpose of contributing to the team's success.''

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) OLOWOKANDI

(2 -- color) BRAND

(3 -- color) MILLER

(4 -- color) MAGGETTE

Box:

(1) CLIP OR SAVE?

Clippers players who signed free-agent deals Wednesday:

(2) FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS