Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has several daunting challenges ahead of him.

When the final horn sounded in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and the Lakers bowed out to the Detroit Pistons, some very large question marks surrounded this Lakers team and its future direction.  

Almost from top to bottom, they are a team with tremendous uncertainty.  

Of course the Lakers still have talent and options on how best to approach their off-season planning, but the strong perception from all corners is that they are a team that is coming apart.

Kupchak?s job will be to formulate and execute a blueprint that can right the ship for next season and put the Lakers back on a successful path years down the road.

The uncertainty starts of course with head coach Phil Jackson.

?But right now, I would say that it's a pretty slim chance that I'll be back coaching next year,'' said Phil Jackson.?

But of perhaps even greater import even than losing a coach who has won nine championships is how to keep the best wing player and best inside presence in the NBA interested in staying in LA, and in playing with each other over the long run.  

Kobe Bryant?s personal life is in crisis and he has had several well-publicized differences with Shaquille O?Neal.  

The free-agent-to-be Kobe may look to move on and do his own thing somewhere else.  Meanwhile, Shaq is under contract and probably cannot be traded, but whether his heart remains committed to the Lakers? cause is dubious at best.  

?Everyone is going to take care of their own business, and everyone is going to do what's best for them, including me,? O?Neal said.  ?I have to have a discussion with Mitch and see where they want to go with things.?

Then even if Kobe and Shaq do return together, there is of course the matter of putting together supporting pieces that can give the Lakers what they need to win another championship.  Karl Malone and Gary Payton have uncertain futures and were exposed as injured and aging players who did not keep up with younger bodies come playoff time.  

So the Lakers need to find some key, young role players to go along with their superstars, if they can figure out a way to keep the superstars happy together in LA.  And then they will need to find a coach who has the gravitas and experience to take control and motivate the team back to the top.  

Kupchak?s difficult job begins now.