Hart making his case for next season too

Making personnel decisions isn’t part of Corey Maggette’s job description, but he says there’s one move that seems obvious to him for next season: The Clippers should re-sign point guard Jason Hart.

“He has been great for this team,” Maggette said. “He has come in and fit with this team, he puts everyone in position to score and in position to win games.

“What I’m saying is that he’s a great pickup. I’m not the general manager, but I know I would bring him back.”

Hart’s performance has been among the keys to the Clippers’ current 6-1 stretch with a Western Conference playoff berth at stake.

He scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists Saturday night in a 99-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. On Friday against the Sacramento Kings, who released Hart last month, he scored 16 points, led the Clippers with seven assists and grabbed six rebounds.

Overall in 14 games (13 starts) with the Clippers, Hart is averaging 8.9 points and 3.5 assists.

Coach Mike Dunleavy has credited Hart with helping to keep the Clippers afloat in the postseason race despite their problems at point guard.

“Jason has been a godsend,” Dunleavy said. “Being able to find a veteran guard, who we liked, we had an opportunity to get him and we jumped all over it. It’s obviously been really big for us.”

Shaun Livingston might not play next season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last month, and injuries have sidelined Sam Cassell, 37, for much of the season. Cassell’s back spasms worsened in Saturday’s game, and he might sit out the rest of the regular season.

Livingston and Cassell are under guaranteed contracts next season, but the Clippers might have four point guards on the roster again.

“Shaun is going to be out for a year and a half, probably, and J. Hart has been solid for this team,” Maggette said. “That’s what Mike wants from a point guard -- good defense and making shots -- and he’s been doing it.”

jason.reid@latimes.com