CLIPPERS WOULD SETTLE FOR SHORT-TERM SUCCESS : TAYLOR ENTERS SEASON KNOWING HE'S ON THE WAY OUT.

Byline: Randy Hill Staff Writer

The Clippers enter a new season in a new home tonight when they play host to the Seattle SuperSonics (7:30) at Staples Center. However, Maurice Taylor did a good job of summing up why it's hard to be optimistic.

``We've made strides and I think we're ready,'' said the power forward. ``It should be pretty exciting . . . at least for this year.''

The ``at least for this year'' is the key. After giving Clippers fans reason to think the franchise might be turning the corner he went on to say this:

``As far as returning goes, that's over,'' Taylor said Saturday, his 23rd birthday, and the day before the NBA deadline to sign his vigorously requested, six-year, $70.9 million extension. ``I'm playing my last year here.''

That's exactly what you don't want to hear from someone who averaged 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.

Taylor isn't the only Clipper who may be gone after the season. Derek Anderson, acquired from Cleveland during the offseason, also will be eligible for free agency. Matching their salary requests against owner Donald T. Sterling's history for hoop investments (the highest-paid Clipper in Sterling history was Stojko Vrankovic at $4 million and change per season), it's easy to imagine Taylor and Anderson taking what should be more than 30 percent of the Clippers offense to other teams.

The good news is the Clippers have some talented young players entering Chris Ford's second season as head coach. After a 9-41 record a season ago, Ford's second season could be defined by Lamar Odom, the 6-9 rookie who was the team's first-round draft pick and fourth overall this past June.

Odom played four positions during the exhibition season, helping the Clippers to a 5-3 record. He led the team in scoring (18 points per game) and rebounding (8) while ranking third among Clippers in assists and blocked shots. He also finished third among NBA players in minutes played.

``He needs the experience,'' said Ford. ``The entire season is going to be a learning experience for him.''

Along with Taylor, Anderson, and second-year center Michael Olowokandi, Odom may be the front man in a promising quartet. They will be aided by small forward Tyrone Nesby, last season's CBA plum, who needs to fit his new contract, refined perimeter touch and fortified ego into the sixth-man role.

Strongman Brian Skinner (6-9, 255 pounds) has emerged as a force entering his second season, and appears capable of surpassing Lorenzen Wright's contributions in low-post combat off the bench. He'll do this without his predecessor's strategic pouting or superstar delusions.

Olowokandi has a bit more polish this season, to go with healthier knees and a softer shooting touch (he made 71 percent of his free-throw attempts in the exhibition games after making just 48 percent last season).

Veteran newcomer Eric Murdock and Troy Hudson, last year's second CBA discovery, will swap time at point guard when Odom isn't sliding into that spot.

``We can't splinter at the first sign of failure,'' said Ford, who spent October attempting to school the Clippers in the finer points of up-tempo offense and aggressive, trapping defense. ``Twenty-eight days go by pretty quickly. We'll see what happens when we start playing for real.

``But I feel good about this team. I like their work ethic. I like the general tone.''

CLIPPERS' ROSTER

No.Player Pos Yr Ht Wt College

- Derek Anderson G 2 6-5 195 Kentucky

- Anthony Avent F 5 6-9 235 Seton Hall

- Eric Murdock G 8 6-1 200 Providence

6 Troy Hudson G 2 6-1 170 Southern Illinois

7 Lamar Odom G-F R 6-9 220 Rhode Island 

8 Tyrone Nesby F 1 6-6 225 UNLV 

23 Maurice Taylor F 2 6-9 260 Michigan

32 Brian Skinner F 1 6-9 255 Baylor

33 Keith Closs C 2 7-3 212 Central Conn.

34 Michael Olowokandi C 1 7-0 269 Pacific

52 Eric Piatkowski G-F 5 6-7 215 Nebraska

AT A GLANCE

Guards

Derek Anderson (6-5), acquired from Cleveland in the sign-and-trade of Lamond Murray, was supposed to be moody, mouthy and selfish. Since coming to the Clippers, he's been terrific off the court and in all categories on it.

Eric Piatkowski (6-6), last season's starter, now has the role of reserve shooter, spotting up when defenses double Taylor and Odom.

Veteran Eric Murdock (6-1), acquired from New Jersey where injuries limited him to 15 games last season, probably starts. For now. Murdock's wheels remain questionable, but he still can play good defense and hit a 3-pointer.

Troy Hudson (6-1) was all the rage after arriving from the CBA last season, but his two-guard tendencies continue rising to the surface. He's a sensational shooter, exceptionally quick, but needs to make better decisions as a playmaker and use his physical tools to be viable on defense.

Forwards

He's 6-9 in your program, about 6-8 in real life, but Maurice Taylor uses an ankle-cracking, left-to-right crossover as his equalizer against the league's more vertically gifted power forwards. He also offers a solid post-up game over each shoulder, and has developed a dependable mid-range jumper.

Taylor is strong enough to defend against most post low-post heavies but must prove he's a big-time rebounder for the Clippers to exceed and agent David Falk to coax a maximum contract-extension offer from potential suitors.

The main reserve is Brian Skinner (6-9, 255), who gets into the air quickly and has become a minor threat (to the defense) with the ball in his hands.

Cheap insurance is provided by free agent Anthony Avent (6-8).

Lamar Odom (6-9) frequently is compared to Magic Johnson, but for practical purposes, it might be better to think of him as a taller, left-handed Scottie Pippen with a superior post-up game. If the wiry Odom can survive all the rough play, he should have a strong rookie season.

Tyrone Nesby (6-6) will provide thrills and chills as the sixth man but needs to commit to the grunt work that launched his career last season.

Centers

Michael Olowokandi (7-0), the No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft, enters his second season with improved skills and a mended left knee. But Olowokandi and his critics need to realize defense and rebounding will measure his effectiveness.

Skinner plans to use his strength and quickness to irritate the centers who get Olowokandi in foul trouble.

Keith Closs (7-3) could add a few minutes of shot-blocking help if he decides to quit moping when he isn't used.

Coach

Chris Ford's second Clippers team has more athleticism and firepower, but his biggest challenge is to conjure a better defensive effort and prevent the young team from assuming each loss is the first symptom of ``Clipper Syndrome.''

Bench

Nesby, Hudson, Skinner and Piatkowski provide high energy and some scoring pop, but not much experience.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 3 boxes

PHOTO The Clippers will try to get the most out of power forward Maurice Taylor, a rising star who says he'll be leaving after the season.

Nick Procaylo/Associated Press

BOX: (1) Clippers' roster (see text)

(2) At a glance (see text)

(3) 1999-2000 Clippers schedule (see text)