In a purely hypothetical piece, Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith explores deals that, while not being chased by teams' respective managements, all make sense.

In Dallas the Mavericks are 12-1 since All-Star Michael Finley went down injured, and coach Don Nelson loves the play of Adrian Griffin.  Utah Jazz future hall of famer Karl Malone is anything but immune to trade talk, often sparking it himself.  Would the teams bite on a Finley and Shawn Bradley for Malone trade?

As has been mentioned so many times in the past, have the Los Angeles Clippers soured on Lamar Odom?  The versatile forward is injured once again, and while he is averaging a career low 13.1 points per contest the team is high on Elton Brand, the power forward taken first overall in the same draft.  Both are up for extensions, Michael Olowokandi will be a free agent before them, and then Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson are up for their pay day.  Something has to give for the league's cheapest owner by reputation.

Finally Smith notes that Milwaukee playing Tim Thomas off the bench cannot be a viable solution for the Bucks, and it is starting to cost them games.  In their double overtime loss to the Knicks their height, or lack thereof, was exposed.  With enough scoring already would the combination of Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells from Portland be enticing enough?