Douglas To Shoot For Clippers

Running out of options on the eve of the abbreviated regular season, free agent point guard Sherman Douglas Wednesday decided to head West.

Douglas, who spent last season with the New Jersey Nets but became expendable when the team brought in Eric Murdock, signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Although terms were not disclosed, ESPN is reporting Douglas will be paid $2.5 million.

He is expected to practice with the team Thursday night at the Veterans Sports Complex in Carson, California.

Douglas, 32, will be reunited with former coach Chris Ford and join his fifth team in 10 years. Ford coached Douglas for 3½ seasons in Boston and one year in Milwaukee.

In 80 games for the Nets last season, Douglas averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 assists in 21 minutes. He starred in the playoffs while filling in for the injured Sam Cassell, averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 assists in three games against the Chicago Bulls.

But realizing they would have a difficult time fitting Douglas under the salary cap, the Nets signed Murdock last month to back up Cassell at point guard.

Douglas, born in Washington, D.C., was interested in playing for his hometown team, but that option was negated Wednesday when the Wizards re-signed Rod Strickland. With at least $5 million to spend under the cap, the Clippers were able to make a substantial offer to Douglas.

The Seattle SuperSonics and Detroit Pistons were among the other teams interested in him.

Pooh Richardson and Darrick Martin were the Clippers' point guards last season, but they shot less than 40 percent from the field.

A second-round pick in 1989, Douglas played 2½ years with the Miami Heat before he was traded to the Celtics. He spent parts of five seasons with Boston before he was sent to Milwaukee in Nvember 1995. Douglas signed as a free agent with the Nets last season.

Douglas averaged a career-high 18.5 points and 8.5 assists for the Heat in 1990-91.

In other moves, the Clippers placed guard Scott Brooks and rookie forward Brian Skinner on the injured list.

Brooks strained his right medial collateral ligament in a preseason loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 29 and is expected to be sidelined four weeks. The 22nd overall pick in the 1998 draft, Skinner underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Wednesday and will be out two to three weeks.

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