Maggette is sick, not in doghouse

Although the Clippers seem to have many problems that might derail their season, Corey Maggette’s situation hasn’t been a distraction for the team, Clippers sources said Thursday.

The Clippers’ sixth man again expressed frustration about his role after playing only 17 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to the New York Knicks, blasting Coach Mike Dunleavy for leaving him on the bench for most of the second half while the Knicks overcame a 10-point halftime deficit.

Maggette sat out Wednesday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers because of what a Clippers official said were flu-like symptoms, and his absence from the lineup and bench a day after criticizing Dunleavy prompted reporters to question whether the Clippers had privately taken disciplinary action against their second-leading scorer.

There was no coverup, team sources said.

Maggette was so ill that he remained at the team hotel for the first half of Wednesday’s game. The seven-year veteran wasn’t at practice Thursday and might not play tonight. People who saw Maggette on Thursday said he “looked horrible” and laughed about fans’ conspiracy theories.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have lost three in a row and are 1-3 on a seven-game, 12-day trip, their longest of the season.

Most in the organization already knew that Maggette would rather play elsewhere because of his feelings about Dunleavy, sources said, and Maggette’s agent earlier in the season requested a trade. General Manager Elgin Baylor has repeatedly tried to bring Maggette and Dunleavy together.

Dunleavy would commit to playing almost anyone who performed to his expectations, many said, but Maggette rarely does.

In the loss to the Knicks, Maggette had no rebounds or deflections (a key statistic in Dunleavy’s grading system) and missed several rotations on defense, sources said.

The situation hasn’t been a problem in the locker room because the Clippers are a veteran team, players said, adding they admire Maggette for his work ethic and like him personally, but business is business.

Despite Maggette’s latest comments, it’s doubtful the team would trade him before the Feb. 22 deadline.

TONIGHT

at Philadelphia, 4 PST, (5:30, Channel 5)

Site -- Wachovia Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 24-25, 76ers 17-33.

Record vs. 76ers -- 1-0.

Update -- Forward Tim Thomas (hyper-extended right knee) might not play tonight. Philadelphia Coach Maurice Cheeks has been credited with much of the team’s improvement since Allen Iverson was traded. Only 5-18 with Iverson on the roster, Philadelphia is 12-15 since the deal in which it acquired Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks.

jason.reid@latimes.com