From Champs to Chumps '" Lakers Sudden Fall Signals Big Changes Needed in L.A

They've gone from champs to chumps in the blink of an eye.

Once, haves, they are now clearly, have-nots.

The Los Angeles Lakers' sudden demise in the 2010-11 NBA playoffs was great news to NBA fans everywhere that were tired of L.A.'s Western Conference dominance the past three seasons and those who are simply ready for some new blood to rise up and become legitimate title contenders out West.

Well, if that's the case, then you've clearly got your wish Los Angeles Lakers haters as the team's postseason collapse should signal big changes for the former two-time defending NBA champions and three-time Western Conference champs as they move into what appears to be a murky future.

After suffering through one of the most unexpected postseason collapses in recent league history, the Lakers will look to quickly distance themselves from their second round debacle against the Dallas Mavericks.

However, doing so may not be so easy as two main issues concerning the Lakers' present and near-future situations need to be addressed before the team can move forward.

First, Los Angeles needs to look back at where it all went wrong for them this season. Only by identifying the main reasons things fell apart for them, can they begin to address those problems and repair their suddenly-tarnished image.

Second, the Lakers will need to come up with some sort of comprehensive plan for rebuilding their ballclub that will help them get back into title contention as soon as possible (although I could wait awhile for that).

Thankfully for the Lakers' front office brass and GM Mitch Kupchak, they can all read this heartfelt column and follow my short-term plan to alter their roster and possibly turn back into legitimate NBA Finals contenders as early as next season.

I probably should charge L.A. owner Dr. Jerry Buss for the sage NBA advice I'm about to drop or have Kupchak treat for dinner at the very least, but you know what, I'm in a giving mood, so let me get started before I change my mind.

Let's look at what went wrong for the Lakers this postseason.

Besides getting some seriously 'Ëœsoft' performances from Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson and his staff should have known full well that Kobe Bryant is no longer capable of completely taking over in the fourth quarter to finish off teams almost single-handedly. L.A. didn't devise a plan to deal with that reality which is why they're sitting at home right now.

Los Angeles also found out that aging point guard Derek Fisher is too old and slow to still be a starter at his advanced age. In addition to the two aforementioned facts, Los Angeles got almost nothing from offseason additions, Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. The pair of veterans played sparingly for Jackson this season and mostly because when they did, they failed to really contribute.

First and foremost, the Lakers need a new starting point guard to replace Derek Fisher and a new starting power forward to replace the once-again, soft-as-Charmin, Pau Gasol.

I know moving Gasol and his $19 million-per-year contract is going to be extremely difficult, but making this move, even if you've got to take back less in return, is a must if you saw Gasol's play this postseason.

Simply put, the Lakers have absolutely no muscle or toughness on a roster full of big men that all need to 'Ëœgo see the wizard' and get some courage, unless you're counting Andrew Bynum's ability to throw cheap shots on unsuspecting '" and defenseless '" opponents that is.

Looking back, the signs of failure were there for the Lakers all along. Still, Gasol's sudden reversion back into the surprisingly feeble player he once was '" and L.A.'s overall inability to play together '" came as a shock to many.

I'm also thinking the Lakers may want to keep versatile forward Lamar Odom. I'm not real keen on moving the multi-talented sixth man. Nevertheless, I don't think there is any way the Lakers can keep both 'Ëœsoft' frontcourt players if they ever want to contend again.

I'd move Gasol first and if the right deal came along, (can you say Dwight Howard) I'd also consider moving Bynum and Odom as well, even though I remain a bit hesitant at this point.

Next, I think it's time for Ron Artest to take his 'Ëœcrazy guy' act to a new city. Artest still ranks among the league's best perimeter defenders and overall defensive agitators, but his lessened offensive contributions '" and often perplexing persona '" have become more of a distraction to the Lakers than anything else.

Jettisoning Artest won't hurt much because the Lakers already have their future starting small forward on the roster in explosive high-flyer Shannon Brown, who, I might add, showed me a thing or two with his three-point shooting before bowing out.

Whom the Lakers replace the aforementioned players with is anyone's guess, but by my count, L.A. needs to part ways with at least seven players on this season's roster before they can even think of anything else '" like naming a replacement for Hall of Fame head coach Phil Jackson. However, that's a story for another day NBA hoops heads.

Today's news is that the Los Angeles Lakers have shockingly turned into chumps after mostly being champs for the past three seasons '" and depending on where your allegiance lies, that could be a good thing.