Needs and game plans for the East's worst teams

	The Heat would be wise to do everything they can to unload Antoine Walker. John Biever/SI
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In the NBA, the playoffs are the holy grail. Jobs are dangled based on whether a coach can guide his team into the postseason and whether a general manager has acquired the right talent to guarantee an owner at least two home playoff date. Failure to do so (repeatedly) usually results in firings and a major roster overhaul.

So while there is still half a season to be played, it is time to play Eastern Conference GM (we'll get to the West next week) and evaluate what those teams whose seasons appear likely to end on schedule need and how exactly they go about doing it.

Miami Heat

Projected draft position: 12
2007-08 committed salaries: $66.1 million
What they need: Youth
How they are going to get it: Let's face it: Miami sold its soul to win the 2006 title by overloading its roster with high-priced veterans and making a ridiculous $100 million financial commitment to Shaquille O'Neal, who is better off signing a Roger Clemens-type deal that would allow him to play for half a season. O'Neal's return probably means Miami will make a playoff push in the second half, but this is no longer a championship-caliber team.

The Heat need to get younger. They need to develop Dorrell Wright into that third scorer they so desperately need, find someone -- anyone -- to take Antoine Walker's bloated contract and parlay Jason Williams' and Michael Doleac's contracts (which expire after next season) into a talented young player. In a deep draft, they need to come away with a versatile big man (Duke's Josh McRoberts?) or a scoring swingman (Florida's Corey Brewer?) to take the pressure off O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.

New York Knicks

Projected draft position: 22 (from the Bulls)
2007-08 committed salaries: $93.5 million
What they need: Perimeter shooting, youth, lobotomy
How they are going to get it: Free agency is out, even though the Knicks will lop off more than $20 million in salaries after this season. Patience is the only way to rebuild the franchise. Horrific trades have saddled the Knicks with unmanageable salaries (Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis) and poor draft picks (Chicago has the right to switch first-round selections with New York this year). New York has compounded its problems by continuing to go for the quick fix.

In two years, the Knicks will be committed to just $45 million in salaries; they would be wise to suck it up and wait for the day of some cap flexibility. With the pick from Chicago, they should draft (or trade for) a point guard. Texas A&M's Acie Law might fit the bill.

Milwaukee Bucks

Projected draft number: 8
2007-08 committed salaries: $45.3 million
What they need: Depth, point guard
How they are going to get it: Milwaukee is in a rare position of having a solid nucleus with two centerpieces in Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd. It also will have enough salary-cap space to make a significant offer to a free agent, as well as Brian Skinner's expiring contract to peddle. Mo Williams is a capable guard, but he is not the pure passer the Bucks need to distribute the ball to Redd and Bogut. Put it this way: If Jason Kidd were in Milwaukee, we're looking at a 50-to-55-win team.

Chauncey Billups, a free agent after this season, would be the perfect fit for a young Milwaukee team starved for a strong floor leader. Florida's Al Horford would be a nice addition to the frontcourt. Don't expect Milwaukee to take a flier on Chinese forward Yi Jianlian; Del Harris, the former coach of the Chinese national team and father of Bucks GM Larry Harris, told me he considers Yi "draftable," but not an impact player.