In triangle $ABC$, find the smallest possible value of $$|(\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B +\cot C)(\cot C + \cot A)|$$
To find the smallest possible value of \( |(\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B + \cot C)(\cot C + \cot A)| \) in a triangle \( ABC \), we will use the properties of cotangent and the angles in a triangle.

1. **Express cotangent in terms of sine and cosine:**
   \[
   \cot A = \frac{\cos A}{\sin A}, \quad \cot B = \frac{\cos B}{\sin B}, \quad \cot C = \frac{\cos C}{\sin C}
   \]

2. **Use the identity for the sum of angles in a triangle:**
   \[
   A + B + C = \pi
   \]

3. **Express the product \( (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B + \cot C)(\cot C + \cot A) \):**
   \[
   (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B + \cot C)(\cot C + \cot A)
   \]

4. **Use the cotangent addition formula:**
   \[
   \cot(A + B) = \frac{\cot A \cot B - 1}{\cot A + \cot B}
   \]
   Since \( A + B + C = \pi \), we have \( \cot C = -\cot(A + B) \).

5. **Simplify the expression:**
   \[
   (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B + \cot C)(\cot C + \cot A) = (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B - \cot(A + B))(\cot(A + B) + \cot A)
   \]

6. **Use the identity for the product of cotangents in a triangle:**
   \[
   \cot A \cot B + \cot B \cot C + \cot C \cot A = 1
   \]

7. **Substitute and simplify:**
   \[
   (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B + \cot C)(\cot C + \cot A) = (\cot A + \cot B)(\cot B - \cot(A + B))(\cot(A + B) + \cot A)
   \]
   Using the identity \( \cot A \cot B + \cot B \cot C + \cot C \cot A = 1 \), we can simplify further.

8. **Find the minimum value:**
   The minimum value occurs when \( A = B = \frac{\pi}{3} \) and \( C = \frac{\pi}{3} \). In this case:
   \[
   \cot \frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}
   \]
   \[
   (\cot \frac{\pi}{3} + \cot \frac{\pi}{3})(\cot \frac{\pi}{3} + \cot \frac{\pi}{3})(\cot \frac{\pi}{3} + \cot \frac{\pi}{3}) = \left( \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} \right)^3 = \frac{8}{3\sqrt{3}} = \frac{8\sqrt{3}}{9}
   \]

The final answer is \( \boxed{\frac{8\sqrt{3}}{9}} \).