Clippers Get Salary Cap Room, Giving Up Dehere, Schintzius

Clearly positioning themselves for another move within days, the Clippers on Wednesday waived reserve guard Terry Dehere, a former No. 1 pick, and renounced the rights to reserve center Dwayne Schintzius, a free agent.

The transactions clear $1.5 million in cap flexibility for the Clippers--the $2 million Dehere was due for 1997-98 minus a $500,000 buyout. While also establishing a desire to make a greater commitment next season to Brent Barry by easing some of the congestion in the backcourt, they are also apparently setting the stage for another announcement.

As General Manager Elgin Baylor said: “This was a tough decision, but one we felt we had to make at this time in order to make other plans possible.”

Those immediate plans are not believed to involve a trade. A free-agent signing is far more likely.

Dehere, the 13th overall pick in 1993, had his best showing in 1995-96, with what seemed to be a breakthrough season of 12.4 points, 24.6 minutes, 45.9% overall and a franchise-record 44% on three-point baskets. But a decreased role last season--14.4 minutes--meant decreased effectiveness, so he slipped to 38.6% overall and 32.5% from behind the arc.

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The Clippers’ exhibition schedule, released Wednesday: Oct. 11 against Vancouver at the Sports Arena, Oct. 13 at Portland, Oct. 14 at Sacramento, Oct. 17 versus the Lakers in St. Louis, Oct. 21 against Atlanta at the Pond of Anaheim, and Oct. 24 against Portland at the Sports Arena.