EIGHT-MAN ROTATION
Pos	Player	Key Stat	Skinny
PG	Troy Hudson	6.8 PPG	Is CBA to Clippers really a step up?
SG	Derek Anderson	.398 FG %	Fantasy alert: This guy can really play
SF	Lamar Odom	rookie	Is he ready to play 40 minutes a night?
PF	Maurice Taylor	5.3 RPG	Mature, athletic and soon to be elsewhere
C	M. Olowokandi	7.9 RPG	Legit rebounder, shot blocker gets help
SF	Tyrone Nesby	10.1 PPG	Dunking machine has all-around game
PG	Eric Murdock	15 games	Solid backup can run team when needed
SG	Eric Piatkowski	65 threes	When he hits his threes, he earns time

		The Clippers needs consistency among their players. They have some good young talent. I think Lamar Odom will be an outstanding player. Michael Olowokandi will take a step forward in his development, and Maurice Taylor is very good prospect. The Clippers will be better and have already shown that in the preseason. They will take a significant step forward, but certainly not enough to be a playoff team out West.

They moved into the glitzy Staples Center this season, yet failed to redesign their antiquated uniforms, something the media-savvy Lakers did before also moving to the new arena.

It's the same situation on the court. The Clippers have a young, athletic and possibly exciting team, but how interested will anyone be when there's no guarantee it will be together for more than 82 games, and maybe for a lot less?

The heart of the franchise, power forward Maurice Taylor, has demanded to be traded and vowed not to re-sign with the team after contract negotiations went miserably in the summer. So while rookie Lamar Odom could be the steal of the draft, he's already getting a firsthand look at the way potential superstars seem to have bitter experiences with the Clippers.

Odom himself is a question mark. His unlimited potential is still tinged by the erratic personal behavior he displayed right before the draft, when he tried to return to college despite hiring an agent. If Odom weren't with the Clippers, there would probably be less doubt about whether he can put his problems behind him.

That said, the trio of Taylor, Odom and Michael Olowokandi gives the Clippers a seemingly special, if short-lived, starting front line. Point guard Troy Hudson and shooting guard Derek Anderson are the other starters.

Second-year coach Chris Ford is encouraged by the prospects of his youthful team, but he believes the club must improve its rebounding to make the playoffs.

"That's going to be an ongoing thing," Ford says. "We have to 'gang rebound' -- everyone has to go in there. If Olowokandi is shooting the ball, then (Taylor) should be crashing the boards. If (Taylor) is shooting it, then Michael should be crashing the boards. And our perimeter people should be sneaking in there whenever they can. I don't see enough of that yet."

	Player to watch
	Olowokandi Maybe he wasn't a worthy top pick in the draft, but Michael Olowokandi didn't have such a bad rookie season. The Kandi man showed up late after playing in Italy and contributed seven double-doubles. Remember, this is Clipperland, you take small gains where you can. The Clips actually have a formidable front line with Olowokandi, Mo Taylor and Lamar Odom. Let's see what they do with it.

Point guard
The Clippers talked big about making a trade to upgrade this position, and for a while Indiana's Travis Best appeared close to coming to Los Angeles. But in the end, the best executive vice president Elgin Baylor could do was obtain Eric Murdock, who was injured most of last season.

The Clippers believe Hudson, a former CBA player, is a hidden gem, but it might be a little too much to ask him to be the starter, especially with Murdock's durability an issue. Murdock missed 35 games last year with a strained groin and a sore left knee, and he sprained an ankle early in Clippers training camp.

Charles Jones and NBA journeyman Scott Brooks were vying for the No. 3 point guard position. Ford was leaning toward keeping three point guards, even if it costs the team a reserve forward.

"We're going to be deficient in the 'bigs,'" Ford says. "But if we lose a point, we'll be deficient in the points and the bigs, leaving us two spots to fill."

Shooting guard
The Clippers ignored improving several positions in the offseason, but they have become better at shooting guard. Anderson gives them their most athletic off guard in years and someone willing to take on a leadership role. A free agent after the season, Anderson claims he is optimistic that owner Donald T. Sterling will re-sign him next summer. We told you he was positive.

One free agent who was re-signed was Eric Piatkowski, who started last year but is better suited to coming off the bench with his 3-point-shooting skills. This is a position at which the Clippers are not forced to fool themselves into thinking they can compete with most teams.

Small forward
Odom will be given every chance to grow into the job and show why three teams made a mistake in overlooking him in the draft. The truth is, he could also play point guard, shooting guard and power forward if the Clippers needed him to.

Odom has already scored 25 points in an exhibition game, although his shooting has been inconsistent. He is already being touted as the latest franchise player now that Taylor is expected to leave after the season.

Second-year player Tyrone Nesby had a stunning rookie year for an undrafted free agent, earning a multimillion-dollar contract from the Clippers. He will play a lot this season, although his minutes could go down as the Clippers do everything possible to get Odom experience.

Power forward
Taylor arrived at training camp in shape, which was an improvement over last season. If he can improve on last year's performance, teams will be lining up to pay the $71 million he is eligible to receive as a free agent after the season.

Taylor is the Clippers' best offensive player, and he wants to have a monster third year to ensure getting that long-term contract the Clippers have refused to pay him. He insists he won't be affected by the fact he refuses to come back next year.

Brian Skinner had a disappointing rookie season, playing in only 15 contests. He looked better in the exhibition season and will also be used as a backup center. Free agent Anthony Avent had a chance to make the team.

Center
It was an up-and-down rookie year for No. 1 draft pick Olowokandi, who admits that he was plagued by an injured left knee last season. "My knees were bothering me, but a lot of things had gone wrong in the season," says Olowokandi. "I figured with 50 games I could hang in there and then go and get the knee repaired."

During the exhibition season, Olowokandi noticed a significant difference. "It feels good to get up the floor and not worry about being injured," he says.

Olowokandi's offensive ability remains suspect, but his defense was a big boost for the Clippers. His backup will be the wildly inconsistent Keith Closs, who has vowed to justify the $7.2 million contract he signed two years ago.

Coaching
Ford seems to be asserting more control over the front office. He was allowed to fire assistant coach Jim Brewer and trainer Ray Melchiorre in the offseason and seems to have input in personnel decisions.

The question is whether he'll really be able to lift the Clippers out of mediocrity and escape his image as a retread. It's probably out of his hands since the Clippers have already done everything possible to rob him of his most dependable player by alienating Taylor during contract talks. Next year at this time, he'll probably be worrying about replacing Olowokandi, who will be a free agent after the 2000-01 season. At least Ford seems more popular with the players than predecessor Bill Fitch.