Boykins looking for work after leaving $3M on table

Earl Boykins averaged a career-high 14.6 points with the Bucks and Nuggets in '06-07. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Anderson Varejao isn't the only impact free agent still on the market.

Earl Boykins, the veteran 5-foot-5 point guard, remains unsigned and waiting by the phone.

Boykins averaged 14.6 points and 4.4 assists last season for the Nuggets and Bucks, but he decided to opt out of the final year and $3 million on his contract to test the free-agent waters. Unfortunately for him, the market dried up.

The Clippers made a run at him early. The Kings called after losing Mike Bibby to a thumb injury for at least six weeks. But so far no team has been willing to meet Boykins' price tag.

"Earl is the only real difference-maker out there among the remaining available free agents," his agent, Mark Termini, said. "He knows how to win games under pressure."

Boykins might look like just another guy who blew it in free agency, but there's more to the situation than meets the eye. For one, he did not want to return to Milwaukee and its crowded backcourt. For another, Boykins truly feels he is worth the money.

Boykins, 31, has been a dynamic player in most of his NBA stops in recent years. He most certainly will be on the short list for teams looking for help as the season goes along.

Clippers off to hot start

One of the big surprises so far has been the Clippers, 4-0 entering Friday's game at Detroit. When Elton Brand went down with an Achilles tendon injury in the offseason, many wrote off L.A.'s other team. Instead, coach Mike Dunleavy's squad has ridden a more up-tempo offense to early success.

The Clippers were hit hard by injuries last year, causing them to fall back out of the playoff picture. But they have proven NBA players on the roster, and guys who fill various roles. Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley can score, Chris Kaman can provide a low-post threat, Sam Cassell and Brevin Knight can run a team, Tim Thomas can shoot the three and Ruben Patterson can defend and provide a spark off the bench.

The Clippers are also finding motivation in proving wrong the doubters.

"No doubt about it," Cassell said. "I saw one [publication] picked us next to last in the Western Conference. I was like, 'Damn, are we that bad?' We'll see what happens. ... If you don't bring your 'A' game against us, we will beat you."

Points of emphasis

The NBA sent out its annual officiating "points of emphasis" DVD to media members. It's the same DVD issued to all 30 teams as part of their preseason meeting with referees. Among the topics covered this year were the usual traveling, block/charge, hand-checking, defensive three seconds, dislodging and flagrant fouls.

One new inclusion was the jump ball, with the narrator reminding players that it is a violation to touch the ball while it's still on the way up. Apparently the refs were ready. On the very first play of the 2007-08 season, Tim Duncan was called for jumping the gun on Joel Przybilla.

So far there hasn't been a noticeable increase in any type of calls, according to an unscientific survey of a handful of players. "I've noticed a few more traveling calls, maybe a few more of the [hand-checking]," one veteran player said. "But they always start out saying they're going to call everything. Then after a few weeks, it all goes back to the way it was."