Clippers Say They Can’t Pass It Up

The Clippers finally got the man atop their most-wanted list Tuesday.

Now, they expect point guard Andre Miller, the NBA’s leader in assists last season, to lead the former league joke into the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97 and keep the team competitive for years to come.

“In Andre Miller, we are getting the precise player we need to take our team to the next level,� Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “That made this decision easier to make.�

The Cleveland Cavaliers also seemed satisfied with a four-player trade with the Clippers, which ended weeks of talks between the teams. The Cavaliers hope Darius Miles fills seats at Gund Arena next season, drumming up excitement for a moribund franchise with his high-flying moves to the hoop.

In the end, the announcement was only a formality.

Newspapers and radio and television stations in Los Angeles and Cleveland had been reporting since Monday afternoon that the Clippers would be sending Miles and backup forward Harold Jamison to the Cavaliers for Miller and guard Bryant Stith.

The Cavaliers held a formal news conference Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland, with General Manager Jim Paxson saying, “Darius Miles was the player we wanted in this deal. Sometimes you have to make bold moves to get better in the future.�

Miles, who turns 21 in October, was in Vancouver, Canada, filming a movie and was not immediately available for comment. Miles will provide the rebuilding Cavaliers with a marquee player, which was seen as a critical element in any deal for Miller.

Miller, 26, was en route from Northern California on Tuesday and is to be introduced to reporters at a news conference today at Staples Center. Miller is a Los Angeles native who graduated from Verbum Dei High.

Jeff McInnis helped guide the Clippers to 31- and 39-victory seasons in his two-year tenure at the point. But he often clashed with teammates and Coach Alvin Gentry, particularly in the second half of 2001-02. McInnis is an unrestricted free agent and will not be re-signed by the Clippers.

“Andre is a great player and a quiet leader,� Gentry said in a prepared statement. “He is very durable and with [his] style of play, he will be able to push the basketball and distribute the ball to a lot of very athletic players on our team.�

Miller averaged a league-leading 10.9 assists last season, passing off to a cast of unproven and untested players. Miller also averaged 16.5 points, more than all the Clippers except power forward Elton Brand, who averaged 18.2.

With the Clippers, Miller will have an assortment of talented young players to pass to, starting with Brand, a first-time All-Star last season.

Miller will join veteran shooting guard Eric Piatkowski in the backcourt. He also will be paired a great deal with Quentin Richardson, one of the best sixth men in the league last season.

Up front, Miller will find Brand, center Michael Olowokandi and small forward Lamar Odom, who is trying to rebound from a season shortened by an eight-game drug suspension and season-ending ankle and wrist injuries.

The Clippers sent the Cavaliers a potential superstar in Miles, but the move was worth the gamble, according to Baylor.

“It’s always difficult to trade a very exciting and popular player with potential such as Darius,� he said. “The one thing that made this [trade] both easier and exciting is that you are getting a proven player in return who has established himself as one of the top five point guards in the NBA.�

The Clippers and Cavaliers almost struck a deal on draft night, June 26, but talks broke down. The Clippers were said to be uneasy about trading Miles or Odom, two of the cornerstones of their new and improved team.

The Clippers also attempted to lure the New Orleans Hornets into trade talks for point guard Baron Davis, a former standout at UCLA. But the Hornets were not interested and on Tuesday announced they were giving Davis a contract extension worth more than $80 million.

Miller also is eligible for an extension like the one Davis received. It was one of the reasons the budget-conscious Cavaliers decided to trade Miller and revamp their roster during the off-season.

It’s believed the Clippers and Miller’s agent will put off negotiations on a new deal until after the 2002-03 season is completed. Brand, Odom and Corey Maggette also are eligible for extensions this summer.

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Point, Counterpoint

Andre Miller, the NBA leader in assists last season, is considered by many--including the Clippers--as the best pure point guard in the league. A statistical look at Clipper point guards since the 1996-97 season when the team made the playoffs (minimum 30 games played) and Miller’s three seasons with the Cavaliers:

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