NBA NOTEBOOK: EXEC: CLIPPERS PURSUING ARENAS.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

The Clippers met with Golden State Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas and are considering making an offer to the unrestricted free agent, a Clippers executive confirmed Friday.

Arenas, a Grant High of Van Nuys graduate, has expressed a desire to play in Los Angeles.

The Clippers' interest in Arenas is another sign the team will not match Andre Miller's six-year, $51 million offer sheet from the Denver Nuggets. A Clippers source confirmed Miller's offer sheet will not be matched but said the teams plans to match offers for Elton Brand and Corey Maggette.

--Charge added: Police in Toronto have upgraded an assault charge against former Milwaukee Bucks teammates Gary Payton, Sam Cassell and Jason Caffey stemming from a fight, a prosecutor and the men's lawyer said.

Payton, Cassell and Caffey are charged in connection with an altercation outside a bar April 11. They were charged with common assault, but police upgraded it to assault causing bodily harm, prosecutor Calvin Barry said.

Payton is now with the Lakers and Cassell with Minnesota.

--Also: At a news conference in Los Angeles, seven-time NBA rebounding champion Dennis Rodman wants to make another comeback.

``My choice would be to play for the Kings or Lakers because I want to live in California, but if the Nets are interested, I would go there,'' he said. ... Point guard Tyronn Lue agreed to a two-year, $3 million deal with the Orlando Magic, an NBA source told the Associated Press.