BAMBERG (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Imagine a front-court with Dirk Nowitzki and Chris KAMAN.

No, this is not NBA trade talk about Nowitzki going to the Los Angeles Clippers or Kaman to the Dallas Mavericks.

No, this is about Germany - and a real possibility for the national team after the Clippers forward recently said he had German roots and had been thinking about playing for Deutschland.

National team  coach Dirk Bauermann admitted the national federation would be foolish not to try and get the big man a German passport.

"Of course, maybe we get lucky," answered Bauermann to questions if he would like to have Kaman control the blocks for his side.

"We have Patrick (Femerling) who has played a great season. And hopefully, he can carry that over to the national team. But obviously a guy like Chris Kaman would be an incredible addition."

Upon further questioning if any efforts on-going to bring Kaman in, Bauermann added: "We would be stupid if it was possible and we didn't. And I'm going to leave it at that."

The whole story came into being when Kaman told a German basketball monthly that he had German great-grandparents and that he had thought about playing for the country.

"I think it helps the foreign players when they play in the summer for their national teams. I would like to do that, too," Kaman was quoted as saying in FIVE magazine.

When asked about joining the German national team, Kaman added: "I even thought about that. But then I would be a traitor to my country. I don't know if I could do that."

Germany's Nigerian-born veteran Ademola Okulaja agreed with his coach that he would love to have Kaman in the line-up when Germany attempt to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

"He's a great player. He has a lot of energy and has a great knowledge of the game," said Okulaja, who competed against Kaman when he played in Russia and the Clippers had a training camp there two summers ago.

" It would be great to have him. He would be a great help for us, especially under the boards.If it works out, that would be great.

"With him, our chances of advancing to the Olympics would increase drastically."

FIBA