<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? It might seem like Clippers rookie Yaroslav Korolev is the team's forgotten player, having stepped on the court once in the first eight games. But Coach Mike Dunleavy said he has not lost faith in the forward, and Korolev, 18, said his confidence has not waned. The Clippers are off to their best start in franchise history, but their No.1 draft pick has not been a factor. "It's all about him learning this year and getting better during practice," Dunleavy said. "But there's a chance that he could contribute later on. Potentially, he could play three positions for us this season. But I'm looking more in the second half of the season." Korolev has not been in uniform for the past two games. When veteran forward Walter McCarty's right thumb healed enough for him to make his season debut Sunday against Philadelphia, Korolev was put on the inactive list for that game. Korolev was inactive Tuesday when the Clippers defeated Milwaukee, and he is not likely to play Friday when the Clippers face the Lakers. "It's all right, because I've been in situations before where I didn't play," Korolev said. "I understand that I need a lot of work, and I know Coach Dunleavy wants me to get stronger." His plight could be worse. The Clippers could have allowed Korolev to remain in Russia to play for his club team, CSKA Moscow, for a full season. Last year he played with the CSKA Moscow junior team. Or the Clippers could have allocated him to the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League. The Toros are coached by former Clippers assistant Dennis Johnson. But Dunleavy and Elgin Baylor, the Clippers vice president of basketball operations, said Korolev's development would be best served here, where he could practice regularly with his teammates and get a full indoctrination to Dunleavy's system.</div> Source
