But it ain't like Maggette rolls sans warts. For all his athletic prowess and skills, there's some knucklehead factor with him and he's had numerous clashes with Dunleavy over the years. Dunleavy doesn't clash with dudes who lay it on the line.

But the other factor that would have persuaded the Clippers to move Maggette before the deadline was that they were at a huge crossroads as a franchise - partly because Maggette could opt out this summer. Same with Elton Brand. And who knows what will happen with Shaun Livingston's trick knee.

So now that the deadline has passed, Magette will opt out and the Clippers can either give him more dough even though the coach ain't feelin' him, sign-and-trade him to get something in return, or let him walk (the normal Clipper way).

Enter draft talk. While perusing lotto talk on Clipperblog, it became very apparent to me that USC super stud OJ Mayo has got to be their target. Assuming the lottery order plays out the way the standings currently look, the Clippers would be right around where he's projected to go.

He'd be a great sell to Clipper fans, who have already been watching him all season long and he has oodles of sizzle. And he plays Maggette's position.

So what if the Clippers actually do value JET's game? Does JET straight up for Maggette get it done? Wouldn't the Clippers get better offers than that? What other assets could the Mavs throw in to sweeten the pot?

All good questions. Unfortunately I don't feel like the realistic answers favor the Mavs scoring that prize. But I don't know what's going on in Clipper player personnel meetings either. Maybe they're looking for a scorer in a point guard's body to not get them into their offensive sets. It do seem Clipperish.

But since we're lounging in fantasy world right now, let's step back in time and get out of control with this thing. (Strange fantasy non sequitur: when googling OJ Mayo this picture came up)

What if the Mavs hadn't made the Kidd deal, but instead swapped JET, Stack and Fazekas (who they obviously coveted seeing as they signed him for the rest of the season), cash and 2 2nd round picks for Cassell and Maggette. Surely the Clippers would have done that, right?

Then they traded a first round pick and KVH's expiring contract to the Heat for Shawn Marion? Does this interest you at all?

Damp
Dirk
Marion
Howard
Devin

Cassell
Maggette
Diop
Bass

Now that's a deep, athletic team with upside that still gives you some flexibilty to maneuver moving forward.

Would Cuban have been willing to bite that financial bullet with KVH knowing that he had shed the long term implications of the JET and Stack contracts? And they'd still have one of the first rounders back that they lost in the Kidd deal. And they'd be adding experienced veterans for the stretch run in Cassell and Marion. And they could attack the basket and they'd be outstanding defensively on the perimiter.

And, and, and isn't it depressing that they made the magical Kidd deal yet we're finding more comfort in fantasy land?