Clippers Don’t Have Enough for Two-on-Two

There was a Lamond Murray sighting at the Clippers’ informal workout Friday, but the forward, a no-show the first four days, didn’t get in much work because most of his teammates decided to skip the session.

Eric Piatkowski, Stojko Vrankovic and Murray were the only players at the team’s Carson practice site. Murray and Piatkowski shot around for a while, then Piatkowski and Vrankovic did some weight training.

Murray, in the final year of his contract, downplayed his absence from earlier workouts, saying he has been ready to begin the season for weeks.

“I felt like we were going to start [training camp] next week anyway,” said Murray, a regular at UCLA’s daily pickup games during the lockout. “I’m in shape.”

Piatkowski said that it really didn’t matter how many players took advantage of the informal workouts because the key will be what shape everyone is in when training camps open early next week.

“If they show up ready to play basketball [skipping the workouts] is their prerogative,” Piatkowski said. “I think it’s blown out of proportion when people start talking about how many guys are here.”

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The Clippers, who have less than $5 million available under the salary cap, are not expected to make much noise when the NBA opens its free-agent signing period next week. Signing a point guard remains a priority, but getting a top-notch player like Rod Strickland or Damon Stoudamire is not realistic because of their salary demands.

Free-agent guard Brent Barry, who finished last season with Miami after being traded by the Clippers, said he expects more three- and four-year contracts to be done next week than the normal long-term free-agent deals.

“You’re not going to see everyone signed right away,” Barry said. “There are going to be some guys [out of work], but I wouldn’t say that they’re holding out because of the circumstances. This year is strange. Everyone has to wait for the top [free agents] to sign and see what kind of moves are made.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers have 10 players under contract: James Robinson, Keith Closs, Pooh Richardson, Maurice Taylor, Rodney Rogers, Charles Smith, Lorenzen Wright, Piatkowski, Vrankovic and Murray. Murray, Piatkowski, Rogers, Vrankovic and Wright are in their final contract years.