If you had all the wit in the world FOOLS would fell you.

Both players are eligible to opt out of the final year of their respective contracts. In the case of Brand, he is due to make $16.44 million in 2008-09. Maggette is on the books for $7 million.

Its up to them but both players have expressed publicly and privately that theyd like to remain here, said Elgin Baylor, the Clippers vice president of basketball operations.

However, both players might be waffling.

Unlike Maggette, who said last fall before training camp his intention to opt out this summer, Brand has not said what he intends to do. But word is Brand is tired of losing and is open to leaving. Although he missed nearly the entire season while recovering from a ruptured left Achilles tendon, Brand showed enough in the eight games he played to demonstrate that he is still one of the leagues premier power forwards.

At this point in his career, the 29-year-old Brand would be interested in getting as long a deal as he could and on the open market, he almost surely could command a five-year, $60 million deal.

As for Maggette, opposing assistant coaches gush regularly about how hard he plays. But unlike Brand, Maggette is not among the leagues elite, whether he is listed as a small forward or as a shooting guard.

Still, Maggette is someone who can score points, and he has the innate ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line.

However, the rough-and-tumble offensive style that Maggette plays results in him missing a significant number of games every season, and teams with interest in him strongly would have to consider that.

With the emergence of forward Al Thornton, it is uncertain how interested Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is in bringing back Maggette, whom he has tried to have traded several times over the past four years. Thornton and Maggette have similar games, and neither one is good at setting up teammates for scoring opportunities.

A possible scenario could be that the Clippers put Maggette in a sign-and-trade deal, with the major intent to add a consistent perimeter shooter, which has been one of the Clippers biggest weaknesses.

The Clippers could absorb the loss of Maggette if an adequate piece — outside of the draft — is acquired. Losing both Brand and Maggette, however, would send the Clippers back to square one.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Without a doubt it was the Clippers 4-0 season start that elicited what turned out to be false hope of competing for the playoffs. In retrospect, those victories turned out to be hollow because none of those four teams — Golden State, Seattle, Chicago or Indiana — ended up making the playoffs this year.

TURNING POINT: After a home win over a talented Denver Nuggets team, the Clippers record stood at 6-4. However, that subsequently was followed by a seven-game losing streak and the Clippers never reached the .500 mark again.

NOTES, QUOTES

—The Clippers got the seventh pick when the Draft Lottery was held May 20.

—After being inexplicably passed over for the Rookie Challenge Game during the All-Star weekend in February, rookie forward Al Thornton got the last laugh on those NBA assistant coaches who declined to vote for him. Thornton was named to the five-man all-rookie first team. He was joined by rookie of the year Kevin Durant of Seattle, Houstons Luis Scola, Atlantas Al Horford and Seattles Jeff Green.

Thornton averaged 12.7 points per game, second only to the 20.3 points per game averaged by Durant. Thornton tied the Clippers single-game scoring record for a rookie when he poured in 39 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.

—Fifteen months after suffering a catastrophic left knee injury, point guard Shaun Livingston still has not been cleared for any contact by the teams medical staff. Meanwhile, as the days pass, a decision on Livingston looms.

The Clippers must decide by June 30 whether to tender Livingston a qualifying contract offer. The minimum they can offer him is a one-year, $5.8 million deal. Otherwise, the 22-year-old Livingston will become an unrestricted free agent.

It is a difficult decision for the Clippers. Although Livingston has been injury-riddled since he came into the league in 2004-05, he arrived with staggering potential as a Magic Johnson-type floor leader. During the past year, when he was unable to play, the 6-7 Livingston worked tirelessly on improving the major weakness of his game, perimeter shooting.

Elgin Baylor, the Clippers vice president of basketball operations, said a decision one way or the other on Livingston would not be made until the basketball staff could evaluate him in a full-court scrimmage.

—Baylor said the Clippers would work out, evaluate and interview at least 36 players in preparation for the NBA draft. Because the Clippers long-awaited private practice facility remains unfinished, the workouts will be held at the Clippers interim home, Spectrum South Bay. Baylor said he and the basketball staff have been kept busy viewing tape of players and arranging workouts with the players agents.

QUOTE TO NOTE: Hes going to have to see if he can go five-on-five. — Elgin Baylor, speaking about the most urgent task on Shaun Livingstons road to playing again.

ROSTER REPORT

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Forward Corey Maggette — With the near season-long absence of forward Elton Brand, Maggette became the Clippers primary offensive scoring source. He responded by posting 52 20-point scoring performances in the 70 games that he played.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Forward Tim Thomas — It was hoped that Thomas could have stepped in for the injured Brand and provide the Clippers with a stable presence at power forward. However, after beginning the season shooting over 50 percent from the field, Thomas performance took a nose dive.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: Although Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy touts swingman Quinton Ross as being a stalwart defender, Ross did not receive a single vote for the NBAs all-defensive team. Even Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich got a vote. There is a strong possibility, too, that Ross will depart after four seasons with the Clippers. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the most money he has made in a season is $826,046.

It is all but certain that journeyman point guard Dan Dickau wont be back after one season with the Clippers. Dickau was slated to be the third point guard in training camp, but a combination of injuries and Sam Cassells eventual departure elevated Dickau into a late season starting role.

Guard Smush Parker did not set any mouths to salivating during his second-half season performance with the Clippers, who signed him after Parker was exiled and then finally waived by Miami. Parker, also an unrestricted free agent, in all probability will wind up in another uniform.

PLAYER NOTES:

—Center Chris Kaman still hopes to play for Germanys national basketball team in the Summer Olympics. Kaman already has embarked on his usual summer pastime of deep sea fishing off his private boat.

—Backup forward-center Paul Davis has been working diligently to return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered five months ago in a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Davis has set a goal of being ready to play for the Clipper...