The One Move That Would Put Denver on Top in The West

Several weeks into the 2009 NBA off season almost every playoff contending team has made a splash to get better.  The Las Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and now the New Orleans Hornets have made a move thus far.

With all those teams making a large splash, that leaves Denver as the only elite team yet to make a move this off season. 

Denver on paper is one of the most skilled and athletic teams in the NBA but they are lacking one minor piece to put them over the top in the West, a big man.

Denver needs a seven foot bruiser who will rebound and defend opposing team's big men such as Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki.

This player does not need to be a 5 year 60 million dollar big man but simply a reserve center on a team that doesn't need him.

This player is Jeff Foster.  Yes many people might remember Foster breaking Melo's hand last year in a game at Pepsi Center, but that just goes to show how tough and physcial he is, which is what Denver needs to throw on soft bigs like the ones mentioned earlier.

Denver's only problem against LA last year was getting out rebounded and not being physical enough down low on Gasol and Odom.  Foster would gladly bully Gasol around leaving the rest of the starting players to find a way to shut down Kobe.

Travis Heath of Hoopsworld reported that Denver was very close to aquirering Foster from Indiana last year, but a deal couldn't be finalized.

A deal of Linas Kleiza, the expiring contract of Malik Allen and the expiring contract of Stephen Hunter for Jeff Foster should be close enough to getting the deal done with maybe a pick or two as a throw in to sweaten the deal.

Denver needs to get a big man before the season begins.  If Denver doesn't add a piece then expect them to drop under the top 4 teams in the West.