Clippers get Drobnjak from Sonics

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers have worked out a sign-and-trade deal for restricted free agent center Predrag Drobnjak.

In exchange, the Clippers sent the Sonics a future second-round draft pick.

By working out a sign-and-trade instead of tendering an offer sheet, the Clippers will have Drobnjak available for the start of training camp on Monday.

The 6-11 Drobnjak started 69 of 82 games with Seattle last season.

The Sonics have $15 million invested in centers Jerome James, Calvin Booth, and Vitaly Potapenko this season. They likely would have been unable to match an offer sheet and opted to take a second-round pick as compensation for Drobnjak.

Seattle acquired Drobnjak from the Washington Wizards in 2001 for a second-round pick. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 21.6 minutes per contest over two seasons with the Sonics.