Rice Waived in ‘Numbers Move’

With a push from Corey Maggette and Bobby Simmons, Glen Rice fell out of the NBA on Friday when the Clippers waived the three-time All-Star.

The younger small forwards played so well that there was no room in the rotation for the 36-year-old Rice, who never left the bench in his last game with the Clippers, a 103-96 overtime victory Tuesday over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Looking to return power forward Melvin Ely to the active roster, the Clippers asked Rice to go on the injured list. He balked, and they turned him loose.

It would have been the third stint on the injured list in four months for the former Laker, whose crowning achievement in 18 games with the Clippers was a last-second shot that beat the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 10 at Staples Center.

He averaged 3.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and less than 15 minutes. Rice never found his shooting range with the Clippers, making only 28.9% of his shots, 17.9% from beyond the three-point arc.

“It was kind of a numbers move,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “It kind of came down to the minutes that I think Glen was looking for probably weren’t here, so we kind of mutually decided [to part ways].

“It was pretty much his call, as far as how it worked out. He felt like he could maybe get a better opportunity someplace else, so we made the move.”

Rice was unavailable for comment.