New Name in Clipper Search

Clipper owner Donald Sterling traveled to Las Vegas over the weekend and reportedly had an informal meeting with Cincinnati Coach Bob Huggins to discuss the Clippers’ coaching job.

According to FOXSports.com, Sterling joined Huggins and Fresno State Coach Jerry Tarkanian for dinner at a restaurant.Huggins said Monday the Clipperjob was notdiscussed.

According to Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, the Clippers had narrowed their search to five candidates early this month. But Monday night, Baylor wouldn’t confirm if Huggins was a candidate.

Denver assistant John Lucas and Clipper assistant Dennis Johnson had been considered the topcandidates.

Johnsonhas coached the Clippers’ summer league team to a 3-3 record, despite having only one of the seven players acquired on draft day available--journeyman Sean Rooks.

“I have never thought this was going to be the basis of whether they are going to hire me or not hire me,” Johnson said of coaching the summer league team. “I really don’t know what is going to happen.”

Lucas, who remained at his home in Houstonfor much of the summer, said he has not recently heard from the Clippers.

Former Atlanta Hawk and Cleveland Cavalier coach Mike Fratello, who withdrew as a candidate in early June, has reconsiderednow that the Clippers have added young talent such as Darius Miles, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson and Keyon Dooling to go with second-year player Lamar Odom.

Another former candidate who could resurface is ex-Georgetown coach John Thompson, who did not land the front office job he sought with the New Jersey Nets and could be looking to coach again.