The Los Angeles Clippers will head into the 2005-2006 season with Shaun Livingston penciled in as their starting point guard, but that doesn't mean that Marko Jaric's career in red and blue is over.

"He's a Danny Ainge-type of player. Danny could play [point guard], he could play [shooting guard]," said Mike Dunleavy. He could shoot it. He's active defensively. He's athletic. He does a lot of things. And that's who I think Marko is."

In other Clippers' news, General Manager Elgin Baylor did not rule out re-signing Kerry Kittles, who was limited to 11 games because of a variety of injuries. "It depends on his health," Baylor said of the former New Jersey Net guard, who sat out the last half of the season because of a degenerative disk in his lower back

Bobby Simmons of the Los Angeles Clippers was named the winner of the 2004-05 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

Simmons is the first Clipper to be honored with the Most Improved Player award since its inception. He also becomes the first player with NBDL (2002-03) experience to be honored with one of the NBA?s annual awards.

Simmons received a total of 384 points, including 59 first-pace votes, from a panel of 123 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Miami?s Dwyane Wade finished second with 129 points (15 first-place votes) followed by Detroit?s Tayshaun Prince with 107 points (14 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received.

?Bobby plays the game with toughness,? said TNT analyst Doug Collins. ?He plays hard. He gives you his best effort all the time. He?s smart. He shoots the ball well and he?s an all-around player.?

A former member of the NBDL?s Mobile Revelers, Simmons is in his fourth NBA season and averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 37.3 minutes per game this season. He improved his scoring average from last season by 8.6 points, his rebounding average by 1.2 rpg. Simmons also increased his field goal percentage to .466 (up from .394 in 2003-04) and three-point field goal percentage to .435 (up from .167 in 2003-04).

He started 74 of the 75 games in which he played for the Clippers this season, leading the team in scoring on 12 occasions, rebounds five times, assists six times and steals 21 times.

A second round selection in the 2001 NBA Draft (42nd pick overall) by the Seattle SuperSonics, Simmons spent two seasons with the Washington Wizards (2001-02 and 2002-03) before signing with the Clippers prior to the 2003-04 season.

Bobby Simmons is set to become the NBA's Most Improved Player, which comes at a perfect time for the Clippers' forward, as he is set to become an unrestricted free-agent.

"It's a very high priority, as far as I'm concerned," Coach Mike Dunleavy told a small group of reporters Monday. "I'm hopeful that he's happy here, that he's enjoyed playing with the Clippers and wants to stay."

Simmons was signed by the Clippers to a two-year, $1.575-million contract in 2003.

Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats and Shaun Livingston of the Los Angeles Clippers today were named the Eastern and Western Conference got milk? Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Okafor led all rookies in rebounding (12.4 rpg), ranked second in scoring (16.5 ppg), and third in blocks (1.45 bpg) during April.  He scored a season-high 29 points with 14 rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 119-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors on April 1.  The next day, he scored 28 points and added 16 rebounds in a 112-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Livingston was in the top five in seven categories among Western Conference rookies this month, ranking first in assists (7.4 apg), steals (1.4 spg) and minutes (35.9 mpg), third in scoring (11.0 ppg), field goal percentage (.448) and free-throw percentage (.750) and fifth in rebounding (4.4 rpg).  Livingston recorded career-highs in points (18), rebounds (eight), assists (11), steals (six) and minutes (46) in games during April and scored the game-winning field goal in a 104-102 victory over Charlotte.

Amare Stoudemire scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the Suns? 98-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night.  With the win the Suns move to a previously unthinkable 60-19 record and more importantly move to a 2-game lead over the Spurs for the league?s best record.

"The fact that we are 60-19 is pretty significant," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We're pretty proud of that. It's something we can look back on in July or August and see what we've accomplished."

Quentin Richardson is expected to start working out with the Suns again in practice today, keeping the workout light while he recovers from a rolled left ankle.  

Coach Mike D?Antoni is convinced ?Q? will return to the lineup this Friday versus the Los Angeles Clippers saying ?there?s a real good chance he?ll be ready.?

The Clippers announced today that guard Corey Maggette will miss the remaining five games of the season due to a torn ligament in his left wrist.

Maggette was examined in Marina del Rey yesterday by Clippers' team orthopedist, Dr. Tony Daly, who placed the wrist in a cast. The cast will be removed in two weeks for re-evaluation. Maggette was also examined yesterday by hand specialist Dr. Roy Meals at UCLA Medical Center.

The Clippers? leading scorer, Maggette has averaged a career best 22.2 points per game in 66 contests this season.

The father of Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. has become seriously ill, making it necessary for coach Dunleavy to be at his side.  

Dunleavy will be replaced on the Clippers sideline by top assistant Jim Eyen for the interim.

"Our thoughts and our prayers are with Mike and his family," Clippers spokesman Joe Safety said.

Newly acquired forward Glenn Robinson delivered in the Spurs 91-82 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, hitting all three of his mid-range jumpers in his 13 minutes off the bench.

"I hope it's like that," Robinson said. "I hope I'm able to knock down a bunch of open shots and do what I do."

Robinson was traded from the 76ers to the Hornets before the deadline and was soon released.

Larry Brown returned just in time to see the Detroit Pistons clinch a playoff berth, beating the L.A. Clippers by a final score of 97-84.

``We got the win, and the way things are going, that's a good thing,'' Brown said. ``The Clippers played pretty darn good without a lot of their guys.''

Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points while Rip Hamilton just missed a triple-double, recording 14 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.

``It was great to have him back,'' Chauncey Billups said. ``We needed him out there giving us instruction and teaching.''