The former NBA champion Lakers have a plethora of questions that need attention in the wake of their historic collapse, but I'm willing to bet that few of them revolve around star guard Kobe Bryant.
Although stranger things have happened, it's probably safe to say that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and owner Jerry Buss both feel that Bryant will definitely play a part in the team's transition to the future, but the same cannot be said for everyone else.
In some people's opinions Ron Artest, Derek Fisher and Steve Blake may have played their last games as Lakers, and once-untouchable players like Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and maybe even Andrew Bynum, look a little more expendable now.
There is certainly a sense of panic surrounding the Lakers franchise at this moment and, considering the manner in which they were dismissed from the postseason, the natural reaction would appear to be an aggressive-and-swift response.
It's acceptable for Kupchak and Buss to recognize that the team's roster may need some serious tinkering and an aggressive approach is necessary if the Lakers hope to re-emerge as title contenders.
It's the swift thing that worries me.
No one outside of Dallas expected the Lakers to actually lose to the Mavericks and there was not one soul who would have predicted the Lakers would have gotten swept—at least not with a straight face.
The way in which the two-time defending champions yelled mercy against Dallas has prompted a wave of angry fans loudly clamoring for change, but to borrow a much overused term, it has to be real change that La...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
