RealGM

"Do we need to find another player to play in the rotation?" said Karl "Maybe."

To beat the Lakers, more like definitely. The good news is that finding that player -- a big man who can guard the likes of Bynum and Gasol in May and June -- may not be as much of a longshot as some suspect. For one, several teams with playoff hopes have been both disappointing and have high payrolls (Washington and Indiana, for instance), which could lead them to shop moderately priced veteran bigs like Brendan Haywood or Jeff Foster.

For another, the idea of Denver taking on salary doesn't seem quite as ridiculous as it did a few months ago. Yes, the Nuggets are in luxury tax territory and the franchise doesn't generate huge sums of money. However, owner Stan Kroenke is one of the league's few moguls to see his net worth increase in the past year -- that large stake in Wal-Mart may not be sexy, but it is recession-proof. As a result, he might feel more inclined to pull the trigger on a deal that brings in a veteran post defender if it can buy him two extra wins in the conference finals this spring.