Spencer Plays Agent, Re-Signs With Clippers

Elmore Spencer, the Clippers’ seven-foot backup center, doesn’t believe in agents.

“I feel the agent process is grossly overrated,” Spencer said. “I just felt I didn’t need a mouthpiece.”

Spencer negotiated his own contract extension, signing a $5-million, three-year deal as training camp opened Friday at UC Irvine.

Spencer, who was in the final year of his contract after starting 63 of the final 68 games last season after center Stanley Roberts suffered a season-ending Achilles’ tendon injury, averaged a career-high 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots.

With Roberts overweight and out of shape at the beginning of camp, Spencer could play a key role for the team again this season.

“Elmore did a very good job for us last year and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be a better player this year with the experience he got last year,” General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “Seven-footers are hard to find, and with Stanley’s situation, it’s a key that we have Elmore.”

California forward Lamond Murray and Nebraska swingman Eric Piatkowski, the Clippers’ first-round draft picks, remain unsigned, although the Clippers say they’re progressing in negotiations.