Step #1: Come tomorrow, waive Patty Mills & sign D-Leaguer Dwayne Jones of the Austin Toros.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=dwayne_jones

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Dwayne-Jones-438/

Jones, who's a standout rebounder -- especially on the offensive glass -- and post defender, will provide immediate insurance as Joel Przybilla's backup until a trade can be made to patch the hole caused by Greg Oden's absence due to injury. (Cap space would become $1,425,171 + $323,312 {i.e., $457,588 / 170 X 119} - $577,848 {i.e.,  $825,497 / 170 X 119} = $1,170,635.)

Step #2: Come 12/17/2009, trade Juwan Howard -- along with the draft rights of Victor Claver & Petteri Koponen -- to Toronto for Rasho Nesterovic. (Cap space would become $1,170,635 + $825,497 - $1,990,000 = $6,132.)

Step #3: After 12/17/2009 & before Christmas, trade Travis Outlaw & Jerryd Bayless to Oklahoma City for Nick Collison. ($3,600,000 + $2,143,080 = $5,743,080 X 125% + 100,000 = $7,278,850 & that's > $6,250,000.)

Step #4: After "Step #3," sign Reece Gaines.

ROSTER (By Christmas Day)

C: Joel Przybilla (28 m.p.g.)
C: Rasho Nesterovic (20 m.p.g.)
C: Dwayne Jones (0 m.p.g.)
C: Greg Oden (Inactive)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge (32 m.p.g.)
PF: Nick Collison (16 m.p.g.)
PF: Dante Cunningham (0 m.p.g.)
PF: Jeff Pendergraph (Inactive)
SF: Martell Webster (28 m.p.g.)
SF/SG: Rudy Fernandez (28 m.p.g.)
SF: Nicolas Batum (Inactive)
SG: Brandon Roy (40 m.p.g.)
SG: Reece Gaines (0 m.p.g.)
PG: Steve Blake (20 m.p.g.)
PG: Andre Miller (28 m.p.g.)

FIRST QUARTER & THIRD QUARTER

SIX MINUTES
C: Joel Przybilla
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Martell Webster
SG: Brandon Roy
PG: Steve Blake

TWO MINUTES

C: Rasho Nesterovic
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Rudy Fernandez
SG: Brandon Roy
PG: Andre Miller

FOUR MINUTES

C: Rasho Nesterovic
PF: Nick Collison
SF: Rudy Fernandez
SG: Brandon Roy
PG: Andre Miller

SECOND QUARTER & FOURTH QUARTER

FOUR MINUTES

C: Rasho Nesterovic
PF: Nick Collison
SF: Martell Webster
SG: Rudy Fernandez
PG: Andre Miller

FOUR MINUTES

C: Joel Przybilla
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Martell Webster
SG: Brandon Roy
PG: Steve Blake

FOUR MINUTES

C: Joel Przybilla
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Rudy Fernandez
SG: Brandon Roy
PG: Andre Miller

That, folks, would be a playoff team with the potential advance to the second round this season.

P.S.: I expect Rudy Fernandez will return to full health before Christmas. Yet, even if Fernandez's back injury is serious, I still advocate acquiring Nick Collison at the cost of Travis Outlaw and Jerryd Bayless -- whose natural position offense in the high-low zone offense is the ballside wing (i.e., Brandon Roy's spot), which was shown by his on-ball playing style and 0 assists tonight -- although the team would probably need to subsequently sign a versatile SF/SG/PG type player from the D-League (e.g., Reece Gaines) for depth purposes.

P.P.S.: After having second thoughts, I feel as if I originally undersold Victor Claver. Even though I'm not a fan of unrefined Euro combo forwards like Claver, he should have more trade value than someone who's used to acquire a backup center. Plus, Petteri Koponen is probably enough of a prospect to entice Toronto into parting ways with Rasho Nesterovic.