Clippers Get Walton For Record Salary

SAN DIEGO, May 13 — The San Diego Clippers ended a year‐long quest for Bill Walton, the coveted 6‐foot‐11inch center, by announcing today they had signed him to a seven‐year contract at more than $800.000 a season.

So buoyed was San Diego by the coup that the team hired a skywriter to proclaim “Walton is a Clipper” over the city.

Walton, who led the Portland Trail Blazers to the National Basketball Association championship two seasons ago, was sidelined this year by a foot injury. Portland was eliminated by Phoenix in the first round of the N.B.A. playoffs last month and Walton was to become a free agent when the playoffs ended.

The Clippers declined to give the exact figures of Walton's contract, but said they were the highest in the N.B.A. David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets is reportedly the league's highestpaid performer at about $800,000 a season.

“I don't feel at liberty to disclose the exact financial arrangements,” said Irving H. Levin, president of the Clippers, in a news conference at the San Diego Sports Arena. “But we can say that no one in the league is being paid more.”

Irv Kaze, vice president, acknowledged that $800,000 was the figure most commonly used for Thompson's salary. “All I will say is that Walton will be doing better,” said Kaze. “We believe he'll be worth any amount he gets because we feel he can lead us to an N.B.A. Championship.”

Walton, who was sporting a closely clipped beard and a business‐like brown plaid suit and brown dotted tie, spoke at the conference. “All I can say is that I'm glad to be back home,” he said. Walton began his career in basketball starring for Helix High School in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego.

“I began shooting baskets around here when I was 7 or 8 years old,” he said. “I know this area and I like it and here's where I ought to be. I also like the coach, Gene Shue.”

Walton, who has had some strained relations with the press, was in excellent humor and appeared to enjoy answering the questions. Asked when he had decided to sign with San Diego, he replied:

“I think it was while I was riding my bicycle about 10 days ago along the coast highway that leads to Dana Point. I was busy dodging passing cars at the time. But I had enough concentration left to think about a contract.”

Walton said when he returned home that day, he called Dr. Ernie Vandeweghe, the former New York Knick who now is a physician in Inglewood.

“I often go to Ernie for advice,” said Walton. “He's been a good and true friend. I asked him to make the contact for me with the Clippers, which he did Ernie always has helped me out in different ways.”

Portland Will Get Compensation

Since Walton technically is still under contract with Portland, Levin was asked how he had been able to announce the signing now.

“It so happens that Bill has an unusual clause in his contract with Portland which entitles him to negotiate with any team in the N.B.A. in the season that precedes the time he becomes a free agent,” said Levin.

Under N.B.A. procedure, Portland will have to be compensated for Walton's loss. Levin said that the team would try to negotiate compensation, and added that he expected no major problems in making a deal. If the teams cannot agree, the N.B.A. com missioner, Larry O'Brien, will determine the compensation.

Walton said he did not know if he had become the N.B.A.'s highest paid player. “I've never cashed any other player's check,” Walton said. “One thing is for sure though, I'll be cashing mine.”

“I would make one request,” he added with a grin. “Now that I am in San Diego, I would like to be known as just plain Bill. No nicknames, please.

“There's more advantages than meets the eye in coming back to San Diego. For one thing, I'll be able to be with my grandmother and mother as well as with my wife and children. My grandmother sure is one fine cook. Besides, we now have two built‐in baby sitters.”

Walton was asked about his health and injured foot. “I'm much better now than I was,” he replied. “Until five months ago I was still using crutches. But I'm okay, I'm getting there. I've already played some full‐court basketball. And I keep getting better every day. I no longer have bad symptoms.”

Vandeweghe, who was asked about the problems that had led to Walton's inactivity, said: “It's fairly simple'in lay language. He injured one foot and returned to play before it was completely healed. In favoring that foot, he hurt the other one.”

San Diego's starting center this season was Swen Nater, who was Walton's back‐up for two years at the University of California, Los Angeles. “My reaction to Bill joining the Clippers is very positive,” said Nater by telephone from his home here. “If he's healthy, we'll definitely be contenders. I did a lot of passing last season, but he'll do more. We'll be more of a running team with his great outlet passes.

“We play very much the same kind of game, coming from the same coaching at the same school. “He's just better at it than I am.”