-Use $$$, expiring contracts or excess vertically challenged PF's to snag a 1st rounder in the 15-25 range. Let's use the most common target, #19 (Memphis). I know there are complaints aboout being the home for bad contracts, but we can use our cash to get turn over the roster. Absorb the James Posey or Jay Will contract. Yes, its an unattractive contract(s), but let's say KT & #54 for #19 & Jay Will.

Then we do the following:

# 8 - Ike Diagu - Don't get cute & think you'll get him later. To me, he's Ben Wallace potentially on D & already very good on offense. I think he may end up being the best player in the draft. That's right, I said that!!!

# 19 - Best big man available (Akindale, Petro...but hopefully Splitter)

# 30 - Daniel Ewing - Defensive minded combo guard who will play minutes when Crawford falls into one of those "all I do is jack up 25 footers" modes. Gives you tough minutes behind Marbury too.

MLE - Best big man you can get your hands on. Honestly, I don't have high hopes here. Dalembert, Magliore and Hunter are long shots. Grab Jerome James & he'll give you Brendan Haywood production (maybe he surprises a bit w/Aguirre's low post instruction).

Still leaves you with expiring contracts & a much tougher, more athletic, younger, defensive minded roster (w/two 7 footers who aren't named Bruno Sundov).

PG: Marbury, Jay Will (who will likely fail here, but's the price to pay for # 19), Ewing, Jackson

SG: Crawford, Houston (whatever that's worth), Penny

SF: Ariza, TT

PF: Ike Diogu, Sweets, Rose, JYD

C: James, Splitter, Butler

That's a 15 man roster (assuming the CBA goes that way).