LA started the year as favorites to win the title for a third straight year. While not everyone thought the Lakers would three-peat, not even the worst Lakers hater could have predicted a second round sweep at the hands of Dallas. The Mavs have folded in the playoffs for years, which makes their broom job of the champs all the crazier.
The Lakers head into the off season with tremendous uncertainty about next year's team. Will they trade Andrew Bynum? Is Kobe getting too old? Who is available via trade and free agency? These questions, and more, need to be answered by team owner Jerry Bus and GM Mitch Kupcheck.
The Lakers also have a few bad contracts to deal with. Derek Fisher is under contract until 2013, as is Luke Walton. Ron Artest is on the books until 2014. In addition to some bad contracts, the team has no young players who will contribute in the next few years and zero first round draft picks in the 2011 draft.
So where does this leave the Lakers, and what improvements CAN the team make?
Here are three options, in no particular order, the team might consider…
