Sam Cassell

Local basketball team acquires two veterans. Team has great start; town is buzzing. Sound familiar? Wonder how the team will wind up after it gets sick of listening to Gary Payton ... I mean Sam Cassell. DAVID WILCZYNSKI Redondo Beach

BOSTON -- If this continues to go his way, he will have just as many championship rings as Kobe Bryant, overcoming what had to seem a life-time sentence with the Clippers. Sam Cassell began the season with the NBA's doormat only to end up playing for the Celtics in the Finals, in his own way pulling a Bryant and demanding to go where he might have a chance to win it all. "Cost me a couple of hundred thousand dollars," Cassell said, "but it was worth it."

In The Times' sports section yesterday, there was an ad for Clipper ticket packages. Take note of Sam Cassell in a Clipper uniform against the Cavaliers. Only problem is, Sam hasn't played for the Clippers yet. Whose body is that with Sam's head on it? They really are "piecing" together a championship team. PAUL COCKERILL Toluca Lake

With the start of the NBA Finals approaching, the chance to rub elbows with history isn't being lost among the Boston Celtics. "Two nights ago, before I went to sleep, it crept into my mind a little bit and I started thinking about the atmosphere, about what exactly this whole thing meant and I couldn't sleep," Ray Allen said. "If you think about it too much, then you're going to just sit up and think about it and your thoughts are going to take over your body."

Enough already with the so-called "basketball experts" constantly blaming Clippers owner Donald Sterling for everything that goes wrong with the team. Here's a loyal owner that has tried to improve his team, stay out of the limelight and over the recent years has put his money where it counts. Is it Sterling's fault that Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston were injured? Is it Sterling's fault that Chris Kaman started the season as an All-Star-quality center and has fizzled out due to his head and physical setbacks?

The Clippers offered little resistance as the Milwaukee Bucks closed in on a playoff spot. Toni Kukoc scored 26 points to tie his season high, and the Bucks defeated the Clippers, 112-92, Wednesday night. Because of the Washington Wizards' loss to the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee can clinch a playoff berth with one more victory or a loss by the Wizards.

It's only the exhibition season, which ranks somewhere slightly above a glorified scrimmage, but if Sam Cassell can bring anything like he did against Portland to the regular season, the Clippers will be more than satisfied. Cassell playfully launched a shot from midcourt at the start of the game against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday when officials called time to fix a faulty shot clock. Swoosh. Just like almost all his shots in the first quarter.

On second thought, point guard Sam Cassell might not mind being a Clipper after all, his representative said Monday. Through his agent, Charles Tucker, Cassell last week expressed "overall concerns" about joining the team, which sent guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 12-year veteran and a lottery-protected first-round pick in next year's draft.

Concerned the Clippers might miss the playoffs, Sam Cassell plans to return to the lineup tonight against the Lakers at Staples Center. "I think I am going to play," said Cassell, sidelined often because of injuries this season. "I'm going to get my butt off the shelf." Cassell has sat out the previous four games because of back spasms. The condition had limited the 13-year veteran guard to 17 minutes in the last 11 games.

The Clippers received good news Tuesday, learning that Sam Cassell, who left Monday's game against the Houston Rockets because of a strained left calf, is listed as day-to-day. Cassell, who strained his calf in the first quarter of the loss, visited Tuesday with Tony Daly, the team's physician. He reported that he was feeling better, although it is uncertain if Cassell will play against the Nuggets in Denver on Friday.

Enough already with the so-called "basketball experts" constantly blaming Clippers owner Donald Sterling for everything that goes wrong with the team. Here's a loyal owner that has tried to improve his team, stay out of the limelight and over the recent years has put his money where it counts. Is it Sterling's fault that Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston were injured? Is it Sterling's fault that Chris Kaman started the season as an All-Star-quality center and has fizzled out due to his head and physical setbacks?

One of the few charismatic eras of the Clippers franchise came to an anticlimactic end Wednesday, with the team buying out the contract of veteran point guard Sam Cassell. After ending a stalemate that had been lingering for days, Cassell can now join the Boston Celtics, his preferred destination, once he clears waivers after a 48-hour period. The Clippers are expected to sign guard Ronald "Flip" Murray, recently waived by the Detroit Pistons. Murray, 28, has played with four teams, averaging 9.

Sam Cassell is seeking a buyout. The Clippers are more willing to accommodate a walkout. That is the status of a festering situation involving Cassell's aspirations of departing the Clippers, one that has reached a significant stalemate. The organization is willing to waive Cassell if he agrees to walk away from the roughly $2.1 million still owed on his $6.1-million contract. Cassell was adamant Wednesday, saying that if that is the case, he is not being treated fairly.

Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers played it coy. "Who?" he slyly said, when asked about Sam Cassell possibly joining his Celtics, before they thoroughly beat the Clippers on Monday. "Never heard of him." Rivers can't talk about it, but the Celtics are a favorite destination for Cassell if his contract is bought out by March 1. This possibility of the Clippers and Cassell parting ways has been lingering over the team the last few days.

Sam Cassell could soon be wearing the green and white of the Boston Celtics. Or the purple and orange of the Phoenix Suns. Even the yellow and blue of the Denver Nuggets. With the time dwindling to arrange a buyout of his contract, the point guard finally confirmed Monday that a divorce between him and the team is being discussed. "They've been discussing it, so what more can I say?" Cassell said. "Both parties are getting to a number and saying, 'OK, this is what we'll do it for.'

Sam Cassell is still a Clipper. And so, for that matter, is everyone else. The NBA's trading deadline came and went Thursday with nary a move made by the Clippers. The Phoenix Suns made a late inquiry regarding Clippers guard Quinton Ross, but no deal was made and no other talks materialized. That wasn't for a lack of effort, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor and Coach Mike Dunleavy. Both called the talks, which went up to the noon deadline, disappointing.

Sam Cassell was making shots and creating them for other people, but then he ran out of fouls. And New Jersey ran out of steam. Cassell finished with 26 points and 10 assists for the Nets, but fouled out with 2:19 to play in a game won by Utah, 100-95. It was the Jazz's fifth win in a row. New Jersey was behind by one point when Cassell fouled out. "I thought with Sam in, we might have a chance to steal one," Net Coach John Calipari said. "The way he was playing, anything could have happened."

Typical Clippers. They have a chance to get Allen Iverson for Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston, yet refuse, saying Livingston is "untouchable"? Iverson averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds in his first NBA season. In his third year, Livingston is having his best season at 8.2 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds. In his career, Livingston has 1,035 points and 39 assists fewer than Iverson did in his first season. Iverson is a perennial All-Star who would give the Clippers a chance at a championship, steal headlines from the Lakers and sell jerseys and tickets.

TORONTO -- Even more short-handed than usual, the Clippers still had enough to hold off the Toronto Raptors. Corey Maggette matched his season-high with 35 points and went five for five from three-point range, Cuttino Mobley had 19 and the Clippers beat the Raptors, 102-98, on Friday night. Playing without suspended point guard Sam Cassell, the Clippers lost forward Tim Thomas to a sore back after the opening 12 minutes.

Sam Cassell on Thursday said he was misquoted in a recent media report saying that David Falk, his agent, is actively pursuing a buyout of the final year of his contract so the veteran point guard could sign with the Boston Celtics. "I didn't say that," Cassell said on the telephone. "I think that's disrespectful to my teammates. As of today, I'm a member of the Clippers and my job is to help the Clippers win ballgames."