Brand Could Miss Opener After Surgery

Clipper forward Elton Brand will be sidelined for at least three weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday. Under the best-case scenario, Brand will sit out all but a few days of training camp, which begins Tuesday at Palm Desert. His status for the team’s season- opening game Oct. 30 against the Cleveland Cavaliers is uncertain.

“The normal course of post-operative treatment ... suggests a three- to four-week recovery period,” said Tony Daly, Clipper team doctor.

Brand suffered a hyperextended right knee while training with Team USA in preparation for the World Cham- pionships last month. An initial MRI exam showed no damage, but a second one taken this week indicated he suffered a tear of the lateral meniscus cartilage. He underwent surgery in Wilmington, Del., and is scheduled to begin his rehabilitation exercises next week with trainer Jasen Powell.

In other news, the team signed free agents Tremaine Fowlkes and Cherokee Parks. Fowlkes averaged 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers as a late-season replacement for injured forwards Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette. Parks averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds with the San Antonio Spurs.