Acquiring McInnis Has Paid Dividends

Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, and Jeff Weltman, director of player personnel, have received credit for adding rookies Darius Miles, Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson and second-year swingman Corey Maggette, but their best move may have been signing free-agent point guard Jeff McInnis late last season.

While earning the league minimum for a four-year player at $523,500, McInnis leads the team in assists (5.4 a game) and is second in scoring (12.5 points a game). He has started 68 games and, despite suffering several painful injuries, has sat out only one game.

He ranks among the league’s best in assists per turnover, trailing only New York’s Mark Jackson with a 3.92 ratio. McInnis also is second on the team in free throw (79.7%) and field-goal (46.4%) percentage.

“I’ve been with Jeff ever since he left North Carolina [as Denver’s second-round pick in the 1997 draft], and he’s really come along,” said Mason Ashe, McInnis’ agent. “I’m so happy for him to finally get a chance to play. For years, all I heard was that he’s the most talented player not to be in the NBA.”

In his four years before signing with the Clippers, McInnis played briefly with the Nuggets and Washington Wizards. He also spent time in Greece and the Continental Basketball Assn., in which he was most valuable player for the 1999-2000 season.

“The biggest knock on Jeff was his attitude, but he’s showing that he won’t let anyone derail him now,” Ashe said.

The Clippers hold the option on McInnis’ contract for next season, which means that unless he is given a new deal, he will again rank near the bottom in pay on the team.

TONIGHT

vs. Houston, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Clippers 24-45, Rockets 38-30.

* Record vs. Rockets: 2-1.

* Update--The Clippers have a chance to win the season series against Houston for the first time since the 1984-85 season. * Tickets--(800) 462-2849.