Team Says That It Might Consider Trading Barry

With the trading deadline approaching, the Clippers might consider trading Brent Barry, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The NBA’s worst defensive team, the Clippers could use a defensive swingman like Bo Outlaw, who left the Clippers for the Orlando Magic.

Barry, who has not decided whether he will re-sign with the team, has the most trade value of any Clipper.

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Guard Eric Piatkowski, who averaged 11.5 minutes last season, figured, he would get more playing time after the Clippers renounced their rights to Malik Sealy last summer.

In Saturday’s 99-81 loss to the Denver Nuggets Piatkowski had 13 points, three rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes.

“I guess I’m like a pig in slop this year,” Piatkowski said. “I’m playing more than I ever have.”

Piatkowski was embarrassed after the Clippers lost to the Nuggets for the second time in three games this season.

“This is probably the worst loss of my career,” he said. “When we lost 16 in a row, I was a rookie. This year, we were coming off a good season and I expected to make the playoffs.”

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Clipper forwards Lamond Murray and Rodney Rogers, the team’s most consistent players this season, were a combined five for 19 in the loss to the Nuggets.

TONIGHT

at Houston

* 5:30 p.m.

* Channel 9

Site--Compaq Center.

Radio--KEZY-FM (95.9), LITE-FM (92.7)

Records--Clippers 10-33, Rockets 19-20.

Record vs. Rockets--0-1.

Update--Brent Barry, who missed the Nugget game because of a heel injury, is questionable. The Rockets beat the Clippers by 14 points in November at the Sports Arena.