It is the calm before the storm.
Less than 72 hours before the NBA draft, all 30 teams are quietly going about their business, making all important last-minute decisions.
But while the focus is on Thursday night's draft, a spate of teams also are working feverishly on consummating a trade or two.
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of them.
Bucks officials have publicly acknowledged they have had trade conversations with some teams in recent weeks, but haven't divulge the specifics of them.
There was word last week the Bucks had interest in forward Andres Nocioni, but he wound up being included in a multi-player trade package from Sacramento to Philadelphia.
Now there's some chatter on the NBA grapevine the Bucks may be interested in another small forward - Corey Maggette of the Golden State Warriors.
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It's no secret the Warriors have Maggette on the trading block - even though he is coming off a quality season in which he was the Warriors' second-leading scorer at 19.8 points a game. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds.
But Maggette has a fairly hefty contract - he still has three years, $31 million remaining on it - and the money-conscious Warriors would like to unload it.
The speculation is the Bucks are offering the Warriors center Dan Gadzuric, who has one year left on his contract for $7.4M, and guard Charlie Bell ($3.8M).
The Bucks are also shopping veteran guard Michael Redd, who will be entering the final year of his contract ($18.3M).
Rumor mill
There certainly isn't a shortage of players, good players, being mentioned in trade discussions.
Besides the aforementioned Redd and Maggette, here are just a few of the players I've heard in recent days:
Detroit shooting guard Richard Hamilton, Detroit small forward Tayshaun Prince, Washington guard Gilbert Arenas, Indiana forwards Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, Cleveland guard Mo Williams, Memphis small forward Rudy Gay, Minnesota power forward Kevin Love and Minnesota center Al Jefferson.
Change of plans
The Bucks were expected to meet with French center Kevin Seraphin Monday, but changed their plans.
Seraphin had flown from Toronto to Chicago and was then going to Milwaukee. When he was informed the Bucks felt it wasn't necessary to meet with him, Seraphin took a flight to Atlanta and met with Hawks officials.
Seraphin is projected as a late first-round selection. The Bucks currently have one first-round pick, the 15th selection overall.
Anderson may return
Bucks officials are still attempting to work out James Anderson before Thursday's draft.
Anderson recently came to Milwaukee, but couldn't work out because of a strained hamstring.
Anderson, a prolific shooting guard, is considered a middle first-round pick and believed to be one of a handful of players the Bucks are considering with their top pick.
Bonus shots
Bucks scouting director Billy McKinney flew to Connecticut over the weekend for a workout with German center Tibor Fleiss. Fleiss is expected to be a late first-round pick. ... There is growing sentiment Detroit, with the seventh overall pick, will tab Ekpe Udoh of Baylor. Udoh worked out for the Pistons Monday. ... Nine players have been invited to be in the green room on draft night and five more are expected to be selected by Tuesday morning. Kansas swingman Xavier Henry wasn't invited as of early Monday night. ... The Los Angeles Clippers are giving serious consideration to trading their top pick, No. 8 overall. ... Speaking of the Clippers, could Mike Woodson be the leading candidate for their vacant head coaching position? ... How much parity is in this draft? Consider this: Relatively unknown Ryan Richards of England more than held his own against more touted Hassan Whiteside of Marshall in a Bucks' workout Monday. Ditto for Cincinnati shooting guard Lance Stephenson against the more touted Henry. ... It's a virtual lock Kentucky will become the first school to ever have five players drafted in the first round: point guard John Wall, power forward DeMarcus Cousins, forward Patrick Patterson, center Daniel Orton and point guard Eric Bledsoe. ... The Bucks, who'll likely need another backup point guard, will check out Kansas' Sherron Collins Tuesday.