IRVINE – Wes Johnson’s zip code didn’t change, and neither did the location of the arena. He certainly won’t have any trouble navigating the streets around Staples Center.

What has changed, besides the uniform, is Johnson’s attitude. Now wearing the red and blue of the Clippers, Johnson is smiling more than he did in his final days with the Lakers, weeks filled with losses and on-court rivalries.

Johnson, who played three seasons with the Lakers, said Tuesday that last season’s injury-filled 21-61 debacle was frustrating at best. He said there was a constant air of uncertainty once the game started because every player wanted to play the hero.

“You would go out there and want to play the right way, but everyone wanted to prove themselves,” Johnson said as the Clippers wrapped up their brief training camp at UC Irvine.

“So nobody really knew what was going on. Nobody ever knew, so it was hard for anyone to come in and get into a good rhythm or flow. Nobody was playing together.”

So when free agency rolled around this past summer, Johnson knew he didn’t want to stick around. Then the Clippers called. Not once. Not twice.

“They were persistent,” said Johnson, who signed a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum.

Not only are the Clippers giving Johnson an L.A. makeover, but he has a sense of being needed, something he didn’t experience much last season. With so many players trying to stand out in games, many times Johnson simply disappeared.

He averaged 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 76 games, including 59 starts for the Lakers.

“I would be trying to play the flow of the game, but it was hard to get into the flow. You don’t know what’s going on,” Johnson said about the Lakers’ offense last season. “You want to come out there and touch the ball and sometimes it would go in spurts, but then you don’t even get to touch it. You want to play off people but it’s tough when you don’t get the ball.

“Here, you have a clear mind going into the season (of what’s expected), so it’s going to be really helpful for me,” Johnson said. “I know what to do and what to expect.”

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he’s noticed a change in Johnson’s attitude, something that happens when a player moves to a better team.

“When you’re on a good team and a role player, you’re a better player,” Rivers said. “You play better. You kind of get your role better. When you’re on a bad team, usually no one actually knows their role and everyone is fighting each other to be the man.

“So I think it’s a lot easier when you come to a team and you know who the guys are.”

One thing Johnson expects is to share minutes with fellow swingman Paul Pierce without rancor or rivalry.

“It’s going to be playing off each other,” Johnson said. “The main thing is pushing each other, not battling for the spot but pushing each other. That’s going to be our goal.”

Rivers said he’s not sure who will start at small forward, hinting that both could see themselves on the court for tipoff.

“I think it’s going to be one of those things where it changes from night to night,” Rivers said.

“There will be nights when Wes starts, nights when Paul starts. I think we’re versatile enough to be able to do that.”

Rivers added that two things will largely determine who starts: “matchups and Paul’s age.”

INJURY UPDATE

Lance Stephenson practiced but was held out of any one-on-one drills because of lingering effects of a groin injury. … Austin Rivers’ day was cut short when he tweaked his left ankle. He said it wasn’t serious.

Contact the writer: jcarr@ocregister.com