The question is, do we want to contend in the next five years?

That is what we have to ask ourselves. Because if we do, Yao Ming is the only player we can think about. For the sole purpose that we have to get through Shaq. Until he retires, the Lakers will continue to win ring after ring after ring. And our only hope of beating the lakers is to neutralize Shaq. If we want a championship now, we can't consider moves that might make us a better team, we simply have to take the risk of drafting the only forseeable center to hang with Shaq. Otherwise, we can just say, "hell we can try to win but lets focus on the couple years post-Shaq," when most of our players will be in their prime/post prime.