Clippers Get Olowokandi Sooner Than Expected

PALM DESERT —  The Clippers received some good news Monday when they found out that Michael Olowokandi, their No. 1 draft choice, can join the team this week instead of mid-February.

Olowokandi, a 7-foot-1 center from Nigeria and the University of Pacific, was granted a release from his contract with Kinder Bologna of the Italian League three weeks before a Feb. 15 escape option was to take effect. He had been in Italy since Jan. 5, when he signed a one-year deal less than 48 hours before the NBA owners and players came to terms to end the lockout.

“This has been a great experience for me and I’m now in game shape,” said Olowokandi . “Obviously, the style of basketball [in Italy] is different than the NBA. I’m looking forward to playing with the Clippers.”

Olowokandi is expected to return to the United States Wednesday.

Elgin Baylor, the Clipper vice president of operations, does not expect any problems signing Olowokandi.

“I’m sure if he was here, he’d be a lot further ahead,” Baylor said. “But just imagine where he would be if he had to come back on [Feb. 15]. Now, he has a chance to get with the team and it is up to [Clipper Coach Chris Ford] to see if he’d play a little in the exhibition games. It’s really going to help him that he’s able to get here sooner than later.”

Ford, who was given the Clipper coaching job nearly a week after Olowokandi left for Italy, said:

“We have to gradually build him up to where he knows our system, these guys have a head start on him. But . . . we’ll get him right in the flow of things. We’ll spoon feed him enough that he’ll catch on quickly.”

Olowokandi played in six games and earned roughly $480,000 of his $1 million contract with Kinder Bologna. Although the Italian League team has reported that Olowokandi’s averages of 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds led to his release, Olowokandi’s agent, Bill Duffy, says that Kinder Bologna began to cut his playing time once it was clear that he would return to play in the NBA this season.

“I asked for his release so he could come over here and get to training camp,” Duffy said. “Kinder Bologna even offered a $5-million contract if he stayed for the rest of the season [including the playoffs that last into June]. But I couldn’t see forfeiting an entire NBA season just for money. Once that was decided, Michael’s role changed dramatically.”

Olowokandi had 28 points and 24 rebounds in his first two games, then things began to fall apart as he struggled to adjust to his lame-duck status with the team. Olowokandi wasn’t playing as much, and was hampered with tendinitis in his right knee and foul trouble.

Being a big man in the Italian League is not the same as the NBA, where a dominant center is a commodity. In Italy, teams are built around versatile perimeter players.

“The referees are not in favor of real physical play [in Italy],” said Olowokandi . “But it was a good for me because now I’m in good game shape.”

Clipper assistant Jim Brewer, who played center in Italy after his NBA career, agreed.

“[Basketball] in Italy is very different than what we see over here,” Brewer said. “He was thrown into the fire and that’s not what he needs.”

Olowokandi, who worked out privately with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kiki Vandeweghe before going to Italy, will be greeted with open arms by Clipper teammates.

“He’s missed some things and he’ll have to do some catching up,” point guard Darrick Martin said. “We’re going to have to work with him. But he’s going to be a good addition. I know as a smaller guy, it’s great to have a seven-footer behind you.

“With the kind of schemes [Ford] is putting in, it allows us to do a lot more [defensively] when you have a guy like that there. If something breaks down and somebody comes in there, he can punish them. He’s going to mean a lot.”

Olowokandi, who has played only 83 games of organized basketball, is expected to become the Clipper starting center. Lorenzen Wright, who has been playing at centerin training camp, will move back to his natural position of power forward.

This will give Ford more options up front as Rodney Rogers works into playing shape and Maurice Taylor overcomes a nagging thigh injury.

Clipper Notes

The Clippers will practice twice today and once Wednesday morning at College of the Desert before the returning to Los Angeles for a night workout at the Sports Arena. They are scheduled to practice at Veteran’s Park Recreation Center in Carson on Thursday morning before playing the Lakers in back-to-back exhibition games over the weekend.

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Olowokandi Overseas

Michael Olowokandi’s statistics per game with Kinder Bologna of the Italian League:

Games 6

Minutes 14.1

Points 7.7

Rebounds 5.8

Blocks 1.5

* LAKERS

Ruben Patterson’s physical play is refreshing. Page 8