NBA NOTEBOOK: DEAL ELUDES CLIPS CENTER.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

The deadline Michael Olowokandi set to have his contract extended passed without a deal Wednesday, so the Clippers' center looks poised to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

That means there is a chance this season will be Olowokandi's last as a Clipper, if he and his agent stick to the terms of the ultimatum they set over the weekend. However, it is not definite he will leave Los Angeles.

Olowokandi has said he would prefer to be a Clipper, as opposed to changing teams. From the Clippers' side, front-office personnel, including general manager Elgin Baylor, vice president Andy Roeser and coach Alvin Gentry, have said Olowokandi is in their long-term plans.

Although the Olowokandi-imposed deadline passed, a deal still could be worked out, if the center and his agent continue to negotiate. Officially, the sides have until Oct. 31 to make a deal.

Neither Olowokandi nor the Clippers commented Wednesday about the passing of the deadline. The ultimatum was the brainchild of Olowokandi's agent, Bill Duffy, who expressed disdain at Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling for holding up an extension when the deadline was set.

Duffy and Olowokandi are hoping for a deal similar to that of the Sacramento Kings' Mike Bibby, who signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension Aug. 16.

This offseason, Olowokandi is a restricted free agent, meaning he could get other teams to make him an offer, which the Clippers have the right to match. No team has given Olowokandi an offer sheet.

Olowokandi averaged 11.2 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. Even if an extension isn't reached, he is expected to play for the Clippers this season by accepting their tender offer of $6.1 million.

- Joe Stevens

--Lakers sign Rucker: The Lakers have signed Guy Rucker, a former Iowa forward-center who played last season in Hungary. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Lakers might be without center Shaquille O'Neal, who underwent toe surgery Sept. 11, for the start of the season. They open Oct. 29.

--Magic healthy: Magic Johnson's latest checkup confirmed he is free of AIDS symptoms, 11 years after he first tested positive for the HIV virus.

The Lakers' legend, who will be inducted next week into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., said his doctor told him last week he is still healthy.

``He said, `Man, whatever you're doing, just keep it up, cause you look great,' '' Johnson said in a conference call to discuss his induction. ``I passed all the tests again.''

Johnson will be inducted into the Hall on Sept. 27 along with coaches Larry Brown and Lute Olsen, the late Drazen Petrovic, North Carolina State women's coach Kay Yow and the Harlem Globetrotters.

--FBI in Tahiti: FBI agents have joined Tahiti police in investigating the disappearance of Bison Dele, the former NBA player who vanished with two others during a sailboat cruise.

Police said investigators were scouring Dele's 55-foot catamaran, taking photographs and gathering fingerprints and other evidence for analysis.

The FBI is searching for Dele's older brother, Miles Dabord, also known as Kevin Williams. Mexican police found personal items belonging to Dabord in a hotel room in Tijuana last Thursday.

--Ewing comeback? Patrick Ewing, introduced as a Wizards assistant coach, said that if Washington needs an extra center during this season, he would consider playing, especially if owner Abe Pollin asked.

``I'm here as an assistant coach. (But) if Mr. Pollin comes to me and says, `Here's a 10-day (contract),' I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth,'' Ewing said.

He retired Tuesday, ending his NBA career after 17 seasons.

--More losing: Two weeks after the United States' embarrassing sixth-place finish at the World Basketball Championships, the Indiana Sports Corp. reported an expected loss of $2.69 million on the tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse and the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

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MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI

The center's own deadline for signing a contract extension with the Clippers passed Wednesday with no deal.