Grant Signs Contract With Clippers, Says He’s Looking to Start

Guard Gary Grant, one of the Clippers’ three first-round draft choices, has signed a multiyear contract, the National Basketball Assn. team announced Tuesday.

Terms were not disclosed, but sources said it’s a three-year package worth about $350,000 per year.

“I’m looking to start,” said Grant, who averaging 21.1 points and 6.9 assists a game and was named Big Ten player of the year at Michigan last season. “I don’t want to sit on the bench. I’m coming to fight for a position with the other veterans, looking for blood and to be the starting point guard.”

Said Clipper Coach Gene Shue: “I like Gary’s attitude because I think he really will come in with that idea and confident that, ‘Yeah, that’s what I want to do, to be the starting guard.’ ”

Grant was acquired by the Clippers in a three-team trade on draft day, June 28. Seattle made him the 15th pick overall, but the Clippers sent Michael Cage to the SuperSonics for Grant and made another deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to land forward Charles Smith of Pittsburgh. The Clippers selected Danny Manning of Kansas with the No. 1 pick.

Negotiations have yet to begin in earnest with Manning and Smith, both of whom are trying to make the U.S. Olympic team.