With Aguirre Sent Packing, Clippers Are Lacking in Loss

The Clippers could have used forward Mark Aguirre in Monday night’s 110-96 loss to the Golden State Warriors before 9,281 at the Sports Arena.

But Aguirre, who provided instant offense as a reserve, was released before the game to make room for forward John Williams, who is expected to be activated soon.

The Clipper offense seemed flat without Aguirre, the ninth-best three-point shooter in the NBA this season, as they fell behind by 17 points at halftime. Fans who were seated behind the Clipper bench, apparently unaware that Aguirre had been released, called for him, but he was home preparing to move his family to Dallas, where he owns a business.

Could the Clippers have used Aguirre?

“That’s a non-issue at this point,” Clipper forward Danny Manning said.

Warrior guard Latrell Sprewell made four three-point shots en route to a game-high 32 points, 20 in the first quarter. Chris Webber had 20 points and five rebounds as the Warriors (23-18) ended a two-game losing streak.

The Clippers, who ended the first half of the season with a 15-26 record, compared to 22-19 at the midway point of last season, had to play the final 2:58 without Manning, who scored 18 points before he was ejected for arguing with referee Ted Bernhardt.

Manning, who received a double technical foul, was tackled by rookie guard Harold Ellis to prevent him from going after Bernhardt.

“I guess he read my mind,” Manning said of the official. “I didn’t say nothing.”

Asked to assess the first half of the season, Clipper guard Mark Jackson said, “We’re not as good a team (as last season). We’re as good potentially, but not as good when we get out on the floor. We’re just too inconsistent. With a good team, you know that every night you’re going to get effort and every night you’re going to be in the ballgame, and we just don’t know sometimes.”

Aguirre, who had been averaging 10.6 points in 22 minutes this season, was informed of his release by phone Monday. He cleaned out his locker before the game and was gone by the time his teammates arrived.

Aguirre, 34, who said last week that he planned to retire at the end of the season, was waived by the Clippers to make room for Williams, who returned to the team after spending the last four months at a weight-reduction center at Duke University. Williams is still suspended without pay, but he could be activated for Saturday’s game against Sacramento at the Sports Arena.

“John coming back is in the very near future, and his minutes are going to come from Mark Aguirre’s minutes,” Clipper Coach Bob Weiss said. “When I brought Mark here, I told him it was to play. I didn’t think he was getting enough minutes to be as happy as he wanted to be, as things were. It was only going to get worse. I didn’t want Mark as the 10th, 11th or 12th man. It’s better for Mark to be able to go somewhere else and better for us.”

The move caught Aguirre by surprise.

“I couldn’t understand the reason,” Aguirre said. “They talked to me today. They felt like there weren’t going to be enough minutes (for him and Williams). They made a business decision. I’d just gotten comfortable with the guys.”

Aguirre, in his 13th NBA season, said he probably won’t try to catch on with another team.

“I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Aguirre said.