Clippers restricted free agent point guard Marko Jaric is open to staying in L.A. and rebutted what a Belgrade news agency quoted him as saying he was ready to move on to a team with a "winning mentality."

Still, he does want to go to a winning team.

"I really want to be on a team that's going to give me an important role, of course," said Jaric, who would be the Clippers' third guard, backing up starters Shaun Livingston and newly acquired Cuttino Mobley. "What position to play, or to start or not to start, doesn't matter. There are players that are starting and playing 10 minutes a game. And yet there are players coming off the bench and they're the best player on the team. It has nothing to do with starting."

Several teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are rumored to be interested in Jaric's services.

In the end though, Jaric expects things to turn out well.

"I know everything's going to end up good," said Jaric, adding that it was possible he would accept a $4.2-million qualifying offer from the Clippers for next season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer."