NO DRAFT PARTY FOR CLIPPERS THIS YEAR.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff writer

To say that the NBA draft used to be the highlight of the Clippers' offseason is an understatement. The draft used to be the highlight of their offseason, regular season and postseason, or lack thereof.

Today, however, new rules apply to a team coming off the best season in Clippers history.

For the first time since 1986, the Clippers have no first- round pick because of their 2000 trade for Corey Maggette. They have two second round picks -- at 34th and 52nd -- and most likely will use one of the picks, or maybe even both, on a foreign player who could work on his development for a couple seasons outside of the United States.

Picking a foreign player, or two, is practically the only feasible way the Clippers can help themselves in this draft. If they follow through, like they say they will, and re-sign free agents Sam Cassell and Vladimir Radmanovic, then they will have 12 guaranteed contracts plus another one likely to go to center Boniface Ndong.

The Clippers only will have two open roster spots, and to use one of them on a second-round project may not be that wise, unless that player appeared to be a certainty to last in the league. Plus, this is a draft that is considered weak because a new rule that prevents high school players from coming directly to the NBA will be used.

Or as coach Mike Dunleavy said, ``If you're not going to have a first-round pick, this is the year to do it.''

General manger Elgin Baylor has a similar sentiment and even said that a lottery pick probably couldn't crack the team's rotation.

``Looking at this draft, I don't know if any of those players could come in now and help us immediately,'' said. ``I don't think so. In time, possibly yes, but not right now.''

Beyond the draft, the Clippers have three main offseason issues -- re- signing Cassell, re-signing Radmanovic and extending Dunleavy's contract. Dunleavy is under contract for this upcoming season, so management may not feel it isnecessary to extend his contract this summer.

Dunleavy, though, could be in demand on the NBA coaching market after this season, so if owner Donald T. Sterling truly desires to keep him, he might be forced to give the coach an extension this summer.

``I don't feel a need to negotiate in the media,'' Dunleavy said. ``But if you let (not giving an extension) go until the season, you raise your chances of it not happening.''

As for Cassell and Radmanovic, Baylor was asked if he thought the team would re-sign them, and he answered, ``Absolutely.''

With Cassell, who will turn 37 in November, the Clippers would prefer to sign him for one season, while he is expected to seek a two-year deal. But Cassell has said he'd like to stay with the team, and Baylor has said the team would like to keep him.

In fact, when Baylor was asked how important it is to keep Cassell, he responded, ``How important is breathing?''

By NBA rules, free-agent negotiating is not allowed until Saturday. Alhough Baylor and Dunleavy have repeatedly said they'd like to keep Cassell and Radmanovic, their eyes are still open to other ways to improve the team.

``If we don't do it, that means those resources will go in a different direction,'' Dunleavy said. ``The good news now is that there are a lot of guys who want to be here.''

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- Frank Burlison, Staff Writer