A decision might come Monday on whether first-round draft pick Yaroslav Korolev could join the Clippers for the 2005-06 season.

The board of directors for CSKA Moscow, the club team that holds Korolev's rights, will meet to discuss a contract buyout that would clear the way for the Clippers to sign Korolev, agent Marc Fleisher said.

"We're really not going to know any more until then," Fleisher said. "They're going to meet, so we'll see."

The news rookie guard Daniel Ewing had awaited for weeks arrived Tuesday: He's officially a Clipper.

The team signed its second-round draft pick to a three-year, $1.8-million contract.

"I've been watching NBA TV and seeing other teams signing their guys, so I was getting real anxious," said Ewing, selected 32nd overall. "I was wondering when my deal was going to get done, so it's a big relief."

Ewing averaged 11.6 points and 2.1 assists during four seasons at Duke. In five games for the Clippers' squad in the Las Vegas Summer League, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

"I just want to go out there and establish myself, earn the respect of my teammates and coaches and the guys around the league," Ewing said. "Hopefully, I can earn some quality minutes and help us reach our goal of making the playoffs."

Sam Cassell was looking for some understanding. He thinks he got it Wednesday from Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy. With that, Cassell took his physical and looked forward to his new start with the Clippers.

"I had to get some things straight before I came out here," said Cassell, whom the Clippers acquired Aug.12 from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade deal involving guard Marko Jaric.

The Clippers tentatively scheduled Cassell to come to Los Angeles four days after the trade. But Cassell did not consider himself on board until he had a discussion with Dunleavy regarding his role.

Though indications are that second-year player Shaun Livingston will be the starting point guard this season, Cassell has a different opinion.

"I'll be starting at the one (point guard)," said Cassell, who will be 36 two weeks into the coming season. "Shaun's going to be good one day, but he's not ready for this right now. I can't come off the bench for this team. If this team had a certified All-Star in front of me, then I could understand that. But that's not the case. I realize that Shaun is the future point guard for this team, but what am I supposed to do, lay down? If that's the case, then I shouldn't be here."

One meeting with Coach Mike Dunleavy was all it took for Sam Cassell to embrace the Clippers, who were also upbeat Wednesday on welcoming the point guard.

The 12-year veteran reported as scheduled for his physical, and Cassell's opening session with Dunleavy set a positive tone, allaying the Clippers' concerns that their unwillingness to offer him a contract extension might dampen things. Cassell liked what he heard about his role on the team, and he's eager to prove that the Clippers got the right guy.

According to Cassell, it won't take long.

"My meeting with Mike was cool, real cool," he said. "Mike Dunleavy and I are on the same page, which is what I wanted to hear, because our major goal is to win.

"That's what he wants and that's what I want, so it was ? the way you want to get it started. I know what I can do, I know the talent they have on this team, and I know what I can do as a part of this team. It's going to be good, real good."

That's the Clippers' view too.

"Sam likes the talent on our team, and he believes he can make an immediate impact," said General Manager Elgin Baylor, who also met with Cassell.

"Coach talked to Sam about the team, how he will fit in and how we will use him. ? He's a heck of a good basketball player. He has the utmost confidence in his ability, and I really believe he will make a difference."

Through his agent, Charles Tucker, Sam Cassell last week expressed "overall concerns" about joining the team, which sent guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 12-year veteran and a lottery-protected first-round pick in next year's draft.

His outlook, however, has apparently improved, and Cassell plans to travel to Los Angeles today to undergo a physical.

"Yeah, he's going to go," Tucker said. "We really have no major problems with [the Clippers], we just want to know what the trade is about, because he's no average player. Like I've said, 'You want a player like Sam to be happy.' "

There had been media speculation that Cassell, who turns 36 on Nov. 18, might not report to the Clippers, because of the team's unwillingness to offer him a contract extension.

He has a $6.1-million salary in the final year of his deal.

Although General Manager Elgin Baylor seemingly shut the door on extension talks before the season, Tucker still hoped to explore the issue this week.

"If the situation is good for us, fine," Tucker said.

"But if the situation is not good for us, then I don't want Sam to be there. It needs to be a good marriage for the Clippers and us."

Sam Cassell, traded by the Timberwolves to the Clippers for Marko Jaric, has refused to take a physical with his new team and is demanding an extension on his contract, which has one year to go. Cassell is asking for a two-year deal.

The Wolves hope this doesn't kill the deal.

A season after his first All-Star selection, Sam Cassell played an injury-filled season in 2004/05, with his stats taking a hit accross the board.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired guard Marko Jaric from the Los Angeles Clippers in a sign-and-trade deal along with guard Lionel Chalmers for guard Sam Cassell and a conditional first-round pick (lottery protected) in the 2006 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of Jaric's contract were not disclosed.

"We're extremely excited to have acquired Marko," said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. "He is a very versatile player who has the ability to play the one, two or three spots on the floor. With Marko, we've added another player who can break down the defense and is a pass first point guard. Lionel is a player that we think has some upside and will compete for a roster spot in training camp."

The Clippers have signed forward James Singleton to a two-year contract that is partially guaranteed. There is a club option for a third year, said Singleton's agent, Buddy Baker.

Singleton, who turned 24 last month and is 6-foot-8, spent two years at Murray State, where he played center. He was on Seattle's 2004 summer-league team and has spent the past two years playing in Italy, where he was scouted by Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

A handgun charge against Los Angeles Clippers forward Chris Wilcox was dismissed Tuesday. The former Maryland star was arrested in June after police found a gun in his car during a traffic stop.

The discovery probably would not have been admissible in court because Wilcox should have been allowed to leave the scene before the arrival of a canine unit that found the weapon, Howard County State's Attorney Tim McCrone said.

"The police officers acted in good faith, but if you miss it by a minute you miss it," McCrone said.

Clipper forward Chris Wilcox, charged with transporting a handgun in a vehicle, was scheduled to stand trial today before a judge in Ellicott City, Md.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Wilcox, who helped Maryland win the 2002 NCAA championship and has had sporadic success in three seasons with the Clippers, was stopped on U.S. Route 29 in Columbia, Md., about 1 a.m. on June 27, after a Howard County police officer saw him struggling to keep his car in a lane.

After a K-9 unit arrived, Wilcox passed a field sobriety test. But when the dog reacted to the silver BMW the 22-year-old player was driving, Wilcox was asked whether there was anything inside the car. He said there was a gun.

A .357 Ruger revolver with one spent shell casing in it was found in a pocket behind the passenger seat. Police said live ammunition and two other spent shell casings also were found in the car.

The player's agent, Jeff Fried, said last month that Wilcox was "disappointed" in the arrest "in light of all the circumstances. But those are the facts that will come out.

"We feel pretty comfortable with the facts as they transpired, but because it's in a legal context, it's very limited what one can say."