Clippers Sail Into Summer With Johnson at the Helm

The Clippers will start their first practice today under new head Coach Dennis Johnson.

But, so far, he has that position only for their team in the L.A. Pro Summer League.

The Clippers open against the Lakers at 3 p.m. Monday at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Johnson, who along with current Denver assistant John Lucas, is considered a leading candidate to coach the team next season, will not get a chance to work with any of the players the Clippers added on draft day, which include rookies Darius Miles, Keyon Dooling, Quentin Richardson and Marko Jaric and second-year swingman Corey Maggette.

Nor is Johnson, who will be joined by assistant Rex Kalamian, expected to have the services of young players such as swingmen Lamar Odom and Tyrone Nesby.

“The rule is that we can not encourage or ask [players under contract] to participate in a summer league,” said Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations. “It is up [to the players]. It is totally up to them on whether they want to play or not.”

With at least 13 players committed for next season’s training camp, the Clippers want to take a close look during the summer at a strong group of free agents, led by former UCLA forward J.R. Henderson and swingman Charles O’Bannon, North Carolina point guard Ed Cota and Delaware center Ndongo Ndiaye.

Power forward Brian Skinner, who spent most of last season on the injured list because of a severe ankle sprain, and center Keith Closs, in his fourth NBA season, are two veteran Clippers who will play on the summer-league team.