CLIPPERS UPDATE: VETERAN FORWARD BAKER SIGNS.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers resurrected Vin Baker's career Monday by signing the veteran forward out of retirement in an effort to add depth to their front court.

Baker, 34, has not played this season. Last season, he played 27 games with the Knicks and Houston Rockets and averaged 1.3 points per game. He was a four-time All-Star between 1995-98, but has not played more than 55 games in a season since the 2000-01 campaign. He has acknowledged battling clinical depression and a drinking problem.

Baker, a 6-foot-11 power forward, is expected to give the Clippers depth inside. He has a good relationship with Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, after playing the first three seasons of his career under Dunleavy in Milwaukee.

Last week, the Clippers traded power forward Chris Wilcox to the Seattle SuperSonics for Vladimir Radmanovic, whose strength is outside shooting. Before acquiring Baker, the Clippers' only inside players were starters Elton Brand and Chris Kaman with reserve Zeljko Rebraca, who is recovering from heart surgery, and rookie Boniface Ndong.

The Clippers (30-21) have lost three in a row and play tonight at Dallas. They have been as many as 12 games above .500 this season, and only one other team in Clipper history has been as many as 10 games above .500.

They are preparing for their playoff run, but will be facing a more difficult schedule, starting with back-to-back games in Dallas and Houston.

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com