Clippers' coach Mike Dunleavy believes that rookie guard Eric Gordon has become one of the best rookies in the NBA this season.

"He's been great, been terrific for us ....  When you bring somebody new into the league and you're learning, there's all kinds of play sets, defenses and coverages. But you look at his numbers since he's been starting for us, [they] are as good or better than all the other rookies," Dunleavy said.

"The thing that has been really great is he plays both sides of the ball. He's a very good defender. He has played a lot of big-time scorers and done very well for us this year. So we're really pleased with his overall play."

The NBA league office turned down the Knicks' application for a disabled player exception for Cuttino Mobley.

The league determined that the heart condition that forced Mobley to retire was a pre-existing condition.

The Clippers signed Fred Jones for the remainder of the season.

His second 10-day contract was due to expire after Wednesday's game, and he was given the good news by Dunleavy in the hallway beforehand.

The L.A. Clippers are one of the few teams in the NBA to have an abundance of quality big men on their roster, and the upcoming trade deadline will not change that, the Daily Herald is reporting.

"No plans at all," Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said on Wednesday night when asked if they had any plans to trade either Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, or Zach Randolph. "We want to see how they play together. We think they can be one of the best front lines in basketball. I think they can work well together; I just haven't seen it happen yet."

"Kaman and Randolph haven't played together, but I don't see that being much of an issue because it's pretty much like Kaman and (Elton) Brand playing together," Dunleavy said. "Thirty-two minutes apiece is not a bad number for guys who have been injured and banged up."

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy recently had a root canal, and joked on Monday night that it has been the best part of his season.

"You know what, actually this is the best part of my season," Dunleavy said jokingly.

Los Angeles was 10-34 heading into Tuesday night's action, good enough for the fourth-worst record in the entire NBA.

Clippers' big man Chris Kaman has reportedly told his teammates that he is in no rush to return from a foot injury before Feb. 19's trade deadline.

Kaman wants to stay in Los Angeles, and his name has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors.

The Clippers have called the league to complain after Lakers' forward Lamar Odom hung on the rim with one hand and grabbed his crotch on Wednesday night.

"Wow. I'll have to look at that," Coach Phil Jackson said. "I missed that. I wasn't aware of that."

A league spokesman said NBA disciplinarian Stu Jackson was reviewing the incident.

Baron Davis will not be playing when the L.A. Clippers visit Oakland to play the Warriors on Sunday because of a hamstring injury, the L.A. Times are reporting.

It would have been Davis' first game back in the Bay Area since leaving Golden State for the Clippers in the off season.

Baron Davis probably will make the trip to Golden State with the Clippers and meet with the Bay Area media, but playing on Sunday appears to be out of the question.

"Unfortunately, but we go there another time," Davis said.

Davis suffered an injured hamstring when he was practicing Tuesday night. He had been making progress before the latest injury. The Clippers said it was not a strained hamstring but that he had some tightness in the area.

Before the Clippers faced the Lakers, Davis said he was pointing toward playing in next Wednesday night's game at Staples Center against the Chicago Bulls.

"That's the most important thing for me, is to get back on the court," Davis said. "I'm tired of conditioning. I'm tired of watching. All my life all I did was play basketball every single day. And had it taken away from me. It just puts everything in perspective.

"I'm just approaching the rest of the season with a positive attitude. I'm not paying attention to what our record is."

The Los Angeles Clippers signed guard Fred Jones to a second 10-day contract before Monday's game against Minnesota.

A six-year NBA veteran, Jones has averaged 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 22.3 minutes in 10 games with the Clippers this season, making one start after originally signing as a free agent on December 28th.  Jones was waived by Los Angeles on January 5th, and then signed to his first 10-day contract on January 8th.  

Jones played 70 games with the Knicks last season, averaging 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 25.1 minutes. The Clippers are the fifth NBA team for Jones, who has appeared in 378 total games and is averaging 7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in his NBA career.