Williams Takes Trip to Dallas

Free agent center Brian Williams, who remains unsigned two months into the season, visited the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The Mavericks are over the salary cap, so they can only acquire Williams for the NBA minimum salary of $265,000 or if he signs with the Clippers or another team with cap room with an agreement that he would be traded to Dallas.

Maverick minority owner Frank Zaccanelli refused comment when asked about the visit. Last weekend, Zaccanelli, director of player development Mark Aguirre and potential investor Michael Johnson met with Williams in the Southland.

Meanwhile, Dwight Manley, Williams’ new agent, denied a New York Post report that Williams underwent knee surgery last fall. The Post reported Friday that Williams underwent clandestine surgery in September and had a screw implanted in his knee, then had it removed three weeks ago.

“It sounds like sour grapes from somebody. It’s a total fabrication,” Manley said. “Brian had a bone spur removed after there was a misdiagnosis of tendinitis. There were no tendons, muscle, cartilage or anything like that operated on. Brian is in the best shape of his life.”

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Center Kevin Duckworth, who went on the injured list Dec. 27 because of a sore left heel, said his pain has subsided and he hopes to begin practicing next week. . . . Guard Pooh Richardson, who had sat out eight of the Clippers’ last nine games because of a sprained right ankle, played nine minutes against the Rockets, missing four of five shots and getting two points, one rebound and one steal.