CLIPS HAVE PLAN B.

Byline: Randy Hill Staff Writer

The Clippers have the fourth pick in today's NBA draft and, by most accounts, at least two plans on how to use it.

Plan A, presumably, is UCLA point guard Baron Davis. Davis - in what might be a first in Clippers history - has openly talked of his desire to play for the Clippers.

But that would be too easy. According to a report in the Charlotte Observer, the Hornets will select Davis with the No. 3 pick if Steve Francis or Elton Brand are unavailable. Davis had refused earlier invitations to work out for Charlotte, but could stop by for an audition on his way to the draft festivities in Washington, D.C.

``We are prepared, no matter how the first three picks go,'' said Elgin Baylor, Clippers vice president of basketball operations. ``If the player we want is not there, we go to our second choice.''

Which brings us to Plan B.

Maryland guard Francis and Duke power forward Brand might be the first two players off the board. If Davis is No. 3, that means Rhode Island's Lamar Odom, the purists' choice as the best player in the draft, looks to be available at four. But Odom's history of erratic decisions off the court could make the (supposedly) 6-foot-11 swingman a bigger risk than the Clippers are willing to take.

Odom reportedly worked out for the Chicago Bulls (who have the first pick) over the weekend but was late for an all-comers workout scheduled Monday night in Providence.

While Odom slides down the list, Jonathan Bender continues to climb. The spindly and skilled 6-11 forward who just graduated from high school in Picayune, Miss., could be snapped up by the Toronto Raptors at five. His pre-draft workouts have morphed into religious experiences for attending scouts.

A Clippers source said both Odom and Bender are intriguing prospects who might be worth a roll of the dice.

Where does this leave Wally Szczerbiak, the hunky small forward from Miami of Ohio? We're not sure where he'll be Thursday, but he was seen at LAX on Monday.

A less-likely Clippers development would be trading the pick.

``The quality of the deals offered hasn't been good,'' Baylor said. ``I don't think anyone's going to give you a good, young, quality player.''

No, but the Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly are willing to give the Clippers their two lottery picks (8 and 11) for the fourth pick and a shot at Szczerbiak.

If this is all starting to sound as though something bad is about to happen, let us review the Clippers' recent draft history. Their first picks in the last five drafts have been excellent. Maurice Taylor was golden at 14 in 1997, and Michael Olowokandi, the first overall selection last season, has the potential to be outstanding.

Their first picks in the five years before 1994 brought in the dubious fivesome of Terry Dehere, Randy Woods, LeRon Ellis, Bo Kimble and Danny Ferry.

It might not be coincidental that subsequent draft success occurred immediately after Jeff Weltman was promoted from scout to director of player personnel. True, Weltman has had higher picks to work with, but he also scored big in '99 by bringing in undrafted small forward Tyrone Nesby and point guard Troy Hudson from the CBA.

``Part of this process is luck,'' said Weltman, who knows the Clippers' fortunes also have been shaped by timing. One year before they earned the first pick that landed Olowokandi, the San Antonio Spurs reaped the benefits of David Robinson's injury by drafting Tim Duncan.

``If that happened to us, they'd be saying we're geniuses,'' Weltman said.

Staff Writer Jon Wilner contributed to this report.