The New Orleans Hornets defeated the L.A. Clippers 114-92 on Tuesday night to earn their first division title in the team's 20 year history, the Associated Press is reporting.

"A lot of people had us not even getting in the playoffs," New Orleans' center Tyson Chandler said. "I don't think any of us believed that. We all believed that we're one of the better teams in the conference. If you win this division it says a lot about the team because this is the best division in basketball."

The Clippers could lose guard Corey Maggette and forward Elton Brand if the pair decide to opt out of their contracts this summer, according to the Orange County Register.

The players have been teammates in Los Angeles for seven years. Even if they decide to return to the team next season, they will become unrestricted free agents in 2008-09.

Neither has made up his mind, but Maggette insists that opting out doesn't mean he's done with the Clippers.

RealGM Note: As the 64th ranked player by season FIC, Maggette 'deserved' to make $8.96 million during the 2007-08 season.

Kirk Hinrich has a relatively reasonable contract, $36.5 million over the next four years, and could be used as trade bait, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

The Bulls could try to package him in a deal for a low-post threat, with the Clippers' Elton Brand a possibility.

Corey Maggette could play Thursday for the Clippers when they battle the Lakers in the final home game of the season, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He missed the team's game against Denver on Tuesday with a strained hamstring and did not practice on Wednesday.

"The rivalry is something you love to do, but I want to make sure I'm ready. If I'm at 80 percent, I'm playing [Thursday]. It's as simple as that," Maggette said.

The Clippers expect to retain Shaun Livingston heading into next season, but the amount they will pay him remains to be determined, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

They could keep him with a qualifying offer and pay him $5.8 million next season.

His history of durability could lower the chance of that happening, though, as the Clippers could look to negotiate a lower salary.

Chris Kaman has decided to shut it down for the remainder of a frustrating 2007-08 season.

"So many injuries, it's been ridiculous," said Kaman.

Kaman has most recently been bothered by a bad ankle.

"I'm done," Kaman said. "We only have nine days left in the season."

While Shaun Livingston's surgically repaired left knee is showing signs of tendinitis, it is showing signs of improvement, the Associated Press is reporting.

The Clippers said Livingston was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala., and he will be allowed to pick up the intensity of his on-court workouts.

Elton Brand isn't expected to opt out of his current deal with the Clippers at the end of the season, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"I see myself as the face of the organization," he said. "When I went down the record spoke for itself. We haven't been that bad in a long time. I just don't want to lose what we have established."

"We have another high draft pick, Al Thornton had an amazing rookie year, and Chris Kaman had a great first half," Brand added. "We have a chance to rebuild quickly. Things just didn't go the way we wanted to this year because of the injuries. I know other teams got better, but we would have improved also."

According to the L.A. Times, the signs point to Clippers' forward Corey Maggette opting out of his contract and becoming an unrestricted free agent this off-season.

The question is, will he re-up with the Clippers?

"I've been here the longest out of any player on our team, and every time I see the good, the bad, the ugly," he said. "There's going to be a good day, and if I'm here when that happens, I would love to be here."

Elton Brand is scheduled to make his season debut tonight when the Clippers take on the SuperSonics, the L.A. Times are reporting.

Brand has missed the team's first 74 games after rupturing his  Achilles in the preseason.

According to Coach Mike Dunleavy, Brand will play 10 to 15 minutes off the bench.