The Seattle SuperSonics traded center Predrag Drobnjak, who had gone unsigned all summer as a restricted free agent, to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday for a future second-round draft choice.

Drobnjak, 6-foot-11 and 272 pounds, averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 82 games last season for Seattle. He was the Sonics' starting center for most of the season.

Drobnjak received little interest on the free agent market, and the teams worked out a sign-and-trade deal that prevented Drobnjak from waiting 15 days to see whether Seattle would match an offer sheet from the Clippers.

``This way he can start with the Clippers immediately,'' Sonics spokesman Mark Moquin said.

The Sonics have three other centers _ Jerome James, Calvin Booth and Vitaly Potapenko, while the Clippers lost starting center Michael Olowokandi as a free agent when he signed with Minnesota.

During the offseason, the 27-year-old Drobnjak was a teammate of Clippers' guard Marko Jaric on the Serbia and Montenegro team that participated in the European Championship. He was also a member of the Yugoslavian National Team that won the gold medal at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis.

A native of Yugoslavia, he was acquired by Seattle from the Washington Wizards in 2001. The Wizards had chosen him in the second round of the 1997 draft.

Barring any last-minute snags, the Clippers today will complete a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics to acquire center Predrag Drobnjak for a future second-round draft pick.

Drobnjak, a restricted free agent, averaged 9.4 points last season.

The Clippers are expected to sign him to a four-year contract at an average of $2.5 million per year.

The Clippers considered signing him to an offer sheet in the summer until the opportunity for a sign-and-trade arose. With last year's starting center, Michael Olowokandi, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Clippers are not set at that position.

Along with the 6-foot-11 Drobnjak, the Clippers have 15-year veteran Olden Polynice, second-year player Melvin Ely and rookie Chris Kaman, taken sixth overall in this year's NBA draft.

Drobnjak is not a classic low-post center but is a good perimeter shooter. Although it is not likely that Drobnjak would be the starting center, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said he envisions him in the regular rotation.

"He has good mobility and is a good outside shooter," Dunleavy said after the team's first training-camp workout Saturday.

Forward Reggie Evans signed a contract on Friday night, about 12 hours before the Sonics' first practice of the season.

He agreed to a two-year deal guaranteed to total more than $1 million.

There was still no announcement on Saturday regarding center Predrag Drobnjak, the team's other restricted free agent.

He had reached an agreement in principle with the Los Angeles Clippers, who were discussing a sign-and-trade deal with the Sonics. A source with knowledge of the negotiations said a sign-and-trade agreement had been agreed to in principle late Saturday, but not officially consummated.

The agreement is thought to be for a future second-round draft pick, but a final decision won't be known until Sunday.

If no sign-and-trade agreement is reached, Drobnjak will sign an offer sheet with the Clippers. That would be delivered to the Sonics on Monday, and Seattle would then have 15 days to decide whether to match and retain Drobnjak.

Drobnjak has remained in Los Angeles and could start working out with the Clippers this weekend if a deal is made.

Drobnjak played the past two seasons with Seattle, and averaged 9.4 points and started 69 games in 2002-'03, most of any center on the team.

The Clippers' agreement with Drobnjak is thought to be a four-year contract with a starting salary at more than $2 million.

Ever the optimist, Luke Ridnour reserved hope in his alma mater when defeat appeared certain. The Sonics' rookie caught a glimpse of an early score of yesterday's Washington State-Oregon football game in which his Ducks trailed big early on.

"We'll come back," he said before disappearing into the weight room. "We always come back."

That's Ridnour. When things seem darkest, he looks for the tiniest glimmer of hope.

His prediction didn't come true, Oregon suffering its first defeat in a 55-16 rout. But Ridnour has been a big believer in positive thinking since learning that he pulled an abdominal muscle during a predraft spring workout.

The injury didn't negatively affect his selection in the draft ? the Sonics chose him No. 14 overall ? but it ruined his summer and delayed the start of his NBA career.

When the Sonics' free-agent invitees, rookies and players with fewer than four years of experience participated in the team's first training-camp workout yesterday, Ridnour watched from the sideline.

He stood alongside the Sonics' coaches and occasionally yelled encouragement to teammates.

"Anybody in my shoes is going to be frustrated because I want to play," Ridnour said. "I'm trusting them (the Sonics' trainers) because they have my best interest in mind that I won't be hurt when I get out there.

"As long as I'm ready before the start of the season or hopefully before then, then I'll be happy."

The Seattle SuperSonics have re-signed forward Reggie Evans to a multi-year deal, General Manager Rick Sund announced today. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed. Evans, a restricted free agent, visited the Denver Nuggets, but demonstrated all summer long that he wanted to re-sign with the Sonics. Evans participated in the team?s pre-summer-league-camp, and reported to Seattle earlier this month to participate in informal workouts.

Evans got his deal done in time to participate in the Sonics first practice of the season this morning, something he said was important. ?I don?t like missing practice,? Evans said afterward. ?I knew I was going to sign ? I was not going to miss practice. The only way I?m going to miss practice is if it?s an emergency.? The motivation for that came from within, Evans added. ?I?m not trying to please my coaching staff, or my teammates or anybody upstairs.?

After joining the Sonics as an undrafted free agent a year ago, Evans now has the security of a two-year deal. Still, he can?t get complacent. ?I can?t get satisfied with it. I?m not satisfied with it, so I just have to continue to work hard and make things even better in the future.?

The Sonics' first practice of the season is this morning, but there was still plenty of shuffling yesterday, except it was regarding contracts.

Forward Reggie Evans had a physical examination although he remained a restricted free agent. He could still reach an agreement in time for this morning's practice, which is only for players with fewer than four years' NBA experience.

The Sonics' other restricted free agent, Predrag Drobnjak, has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers, his agent, David Bauman, confirmed.

What he signs depends on whether the Sonics and Clippers can complete a sign-and-trade. A source close to the negotiations said the Clippers had increased their offer to a future second-round pick, but the Sonics had not agreed to that.

If there is no trade by this afternoon, it's expected Drobnjak will sign an offer sheet with the Clippers. The Sonics would then have 15 days from receiving the offer sheet to decide whether to match what is thought to be a four-year contract starting at more than $2 million this season.

That waiting period would force Drobnjak to miss much of camp because he must also return to Belgrade, Serbia, to get a work visa.

"At this point, one day before the start of training camp, I think it's in everyone's best interest to make a deal. That would let Seattle get something in return for losing Peja, it would allow Peja to start working with the Clippers," Bauman said.

Predrag Drobnjak -- the Sonics' free-agent center -- is on the verge of an agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers for what is believed to be a four-year contract.

Since Drobnjak is a restricted free agent, finalizing financial terms isn't the finish line, though.

The next step is an either-or proposition. Either Drobnjak signs an offer sheet or a sign-and-trade could be created between the two teams. If it comes to signing an offer sheet, Drobnjak must wait 15 days to see if the Sonics will match the terms, thereby retaining him. Under a sign-and-trade agreement, the Sonics would receive some compensation for allowing Drobnjak to join the Clippers immediately.

Sonics general manager Rick Sund hadn't been notified of a finalized agreement when contacted yesterday, and he kept a poker face with regard to the team's intentions.

"His agent, David Bauman, has done a great job keeping us abreast of everything that is being discussed," Sund said. "Peja has indicated maybe he would rather go to a place where he could get more playing time, and we'll have to decide what course is best as we continue to talk to David."

The Sonics have committed $15 million in salary for centers Jerome James, Calvin Booth and Vitaly Potapenko this season. Retaining Drobnjak would add $3 million. That's believed to be the range of the starting salary the Clippers are offering when bonuses are included.

If the teams reach a sign-and-trade arrangement, it would negate the 15-day waiting period. The Sonics are thought to be seeking a second-round pick as compensation from the Clippers since Seattle gave up a second-round pick to acquire Drobnjak from the Washington Wizards in 2001. Bauman has refused comment on negotiation.

If no sign-and-trade is reached, Drobnjak would sign an offer sheet, then wait 15 days to see if the Sonics would match. The clock on that 15 days won't start until the Sonics are delivered a copy of the offer sheet. It can't be faxed.

That means Drobnjak would miss much of training camp, which begins tomorrow for the Sonics and Clippers when players with fewer than four seasons of NBA experience begin practicing.

The status of restricted free agents Predrag Drobnjak and Evans is unclear. Evans is mulling a two-year guaranteed offer from the Sonics worth about $1.5 million while Drobnjak can sign a one-year qualifying offer valued at slightly less than $800,000.

"With Reggie, I'm optimistic that we'll either get a contract done or he'll get an offer sheet and we'll decide if we want to match it or not," Sund said. "I'm hoping we get something done soon."

Vladimir Radmanovic, Ronald Murray, Joseph Forte and Sesay ? all returnees ? should be on hand this weekend, along with the six non-roster players the Sonics invited to camp.

It was believed that the Sonics would waive Forte, who has a year remaining on his contract, but general manager Rick Sund confirmed yesterday that the erstwhile guard, who has had legal troubles during the offseason, is expected to report to camp.

The notion was suggested to Rashard Lewis that he'll need to get ready because the start of the Sonics' training camp is fast approaching. The lanky small forward laughed. "We've been in the gym all summer, so I'm not worried," he shot back.

The "we" to which Lewis referred included Ray Allen, Jerome James, Ansu Sesay and free agent Reggie Evans, who all spent a significant portion of their summer vacation in Seattle.

By Lewis' account, they gathered twice a week for the past month at the Furtado Center where the team trains. Their workouts consisted of hours in the gym and in the weight room, followed by a short drive to the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood where they sprinted up steep hills under the supervision of trainer Dwight Daub.

"This summer, I felt that not only me, but a lot of guys made a commitment to work out, get healthy and get into the gym," Lewis said. "We had a lot of guys here. Sometimes around 12 guys, if you count the free-agent guys. ... That type of commitment lets me know that guys are taking this seriously."